The Spar Proteas capped off a dominant 3-0 series victory over Malawi with a decisive 69-24 win in the final test of the Spar Challenge netball series on Sunday at Ellis Park Arena. This 45-goal victory margin was the largest in the series, with previous wins by 37 and 31 goals in the first two tests, respectively. The series, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, highlighted South Africa's netball strength on the continent as they comfortably swept aside their African rivals.
For the final game, the Proteas coaching staff made notable lineup changes. Goal shooter Ine-Marie Venter, seeing her first court time in the series, started alongside Nichole Breedt, who had a stronger showing in this game at goal attack. Although the shooting circle initially struggled to find rhythm, with Venter missing her first two shots, they soon found their stride. Unlike the previous test, where the teams ended the first quarter tied at 13-13, the Proteas quickly took control, building a 16-7 lead by the end of the first period.
Malawi’s Thandie Galeta shone at wing attack, but the rest of her team struggled to break down South Africa’s formidable defense. Nicola Smith and Karla Pretorius formed an imposing defensive pair for South Africa, limiting Malawi to only four goals in the second quarter. By halftime, the Proteas had a commanding 31-11 lead. In the third quarter, further substitutions saw Owethu Ngubane and Kamogelo Maseko enter the shooting circle, forming a more effective combination, while Jamie van Wyk came on as wing defense. This lineup maintained dominance, adding another 19 goals in the third quarter, and then closing with another 19 in the fourth to finish 69-24.
SPAR Proteas captain Kanyisa Chawane commended her team’s performance, highlighting their consistency and adaptability across the series. Head coach Jenny van Dyk echoed her sentiment, stating that the team had achieved their goal, and that testing various player combinations throughout the series had proven beneficial.
Kamogelo Maseko, South Africa’s standout goal attack, was named Player of the Tournament. She expressed pride in her performance and noted the team’s ability to adapt to Malawi’s varied playing styles. Malawi coach Joanna Kachilika acknowledged the challenging series but was optimistic, seeing the losses as opportunities to address team weaknesses in preparation for the upcoming African Championships.
Earlier, South Africa's men also completed a clean sweep against Zimbabwe in their series, overcoming an early deficit to secure a 49-40 victory.
This comprehensive series win by the Spar Proteas reaffirms South Africa’s strength in African netball and reflects the team’s promising cohesion and performance as they look toward future competitions.
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