SPAR Proteas Aim For Netball Glory In Jamaica

2025-01-14

The SPAR Proteas national netball team, who finished 2024 on a high as the number one ranked team in Africa, start the New Year with an exciting challenge when they travel to the Caribbean to take on Jamaica in the three-test Margaret Beckford Sunshine series in Kingston.

In form Jamaica recently moved into third spot, behind Australia and New Zealand, on the world rankings, after beating England in a Test series.
The SPAR Proteas and the Sunshine Girls have played each other 18 times, with the SPAR Proteas winning three times – most notably in the Netball World Cup in Liverpool in 2019, where the South Africans won by 55 goals to 52 earning them a spot in the semifinals.

“It’s my biggest challenge since taking over as coach,” said national coach, Jenny van Dyk. 

“It’s always tough playing in the Caribbean, but I went to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023, so I am used to that kind of atmosphere. The humidity may also be a problem.  

“Our strategy will be to close the gap in the scoreline and then to go in hard, looking for the win.”

Van Dyk said the star goal defence, Karla Pretorius, was being rested for the tour and would be replaced by rising star San-Marie Visser.

“Karla has a young child, and we will be going to the UK after Jamaica, and that’s a long time to be away from your child,” said Van Dyk.

“I am very excited about San-Marie, and we need to start building for the future.

Assistant coach, Zanele Mdodana, who was a member of the SPAR Proteas team when they last played in Jamaica, is aware of the challenges involved in playing Jamaica at home.

“It’s tough to play Jamaica at home,” she said.
“They fill those arenas to capacity, they’ve got the dance, the song … Those spectators come out in full support of their team. But we made history when we went there under coach Elize Kotze and beat them.

“They’ve got a very vibrant team, dynamic, athletic.  Most of their players play in Australia, so they have great international experience. But we want to be the best, so we need to play the best,” said Mdodana.

The matches in Jamaica will be played on January 18, 22 and 25 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.
From Jamaica, the SPAR Proteas will travel to the United Kingdom to play in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup next month.  The other teams taking part are England, Uganda, and Malawi. 

“We have big ambitions for the Nations Cup,” said Van Dyk.
“We want to force England to take us seriously and to play their best players against us. The gap between England, New Zealand and Jamaica is very narrow and we want to show that we belong up there with them.”

The South African national under 21 team, the SPAR Baby Proteas, will also travel with the senior side to Jamaica to play a friendly series during the Margaret Beckford Sunshine series against the Jamaican national under 21 team. This forms part of the SPAR Baby Proteas buildup preparation for the Netball World Youth Cup to be staged in Gibraltar in September.

SPAR, headline sponsor of the SPAR Proteas and SPAR Baby Proteas, wished both teams well on the eve of their departure to the Caribbean. “We extend our congratulations to each player named to the touring squads and wish the SPAR Proteas and SPAR Baby Proteas all the best as they represent the nation against the Jamaican Sunshine Girls.

As a proud partner of Netball South Africa, SPAR is excited for a year of captivating netball action. We are confident in the leadership and the teams to make this series a success. We look forward to a wonderful year of partnership and collaboration’ said Mpudi Maubane, SPAR National PR, Communications and Sponsorships Manager.

SPAR PROTEAS SQUAD

Defenders: Boitumelo Mahloko, Sanmarie Visser, Ane Retief, Nicola Smith, Jamie van Wyk 
Mid-Court: Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Khanyisa Chawane (Captain), Refiloe Nketsa, Jeante Strydom
Shooters: Nichole Breedt, Rolene Streutker, Elmerè van der Berg, Ine-Mari Venter, Owethu Ngubane 
 
Technical team: Jennifer van Dyk (head coach), Zanele Mdodana (assistant coach), Vinolia Austin (team manager), Fikile Phasha (physiotherapist), Werner Botha (sports scientist), Talja Venter (analyst), Nthati Chabana (massage therapist)
 

SPAR BABY PROTEAS SQUAD

Mbali Diphoko, Michelle van der Merwe, Giada Prinsloo, Lisa Ingwersen, Thato Legodi, Jade Atkins, Karla Victor, Kyla Dames, Noncubeko Mjaliswa, Phophi Nematangari, Kiara van Eeden, Zahrah Noah, Ametisse Bandu, Luca Keun, Zionne Grobler
 
Technical team: Precious Mthembu (head coach), Phumza Maweni (assistant coach), Denise Bothma (team manager), Nontsikelelo Xaba (Physio)