If ever there was a plane firing on all 12 cylinders, it would be the Baby Spar Proteas who are yet to lose a match in the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Africa Regional Qualifiers, boasting a health leaderboard advantage and a massive goal difference after their latest win at the University of Pretoria on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024.
Precious Mthembu’s charges came into match day four remarkably high in confidence after bagging four wins in so many matches, however their counterparts Malawi were also yet to lose a match in three games.
Based on how both teams have played to date, one would expect this encounter to be a very feisty affairs, but it was the Baby Proteas who were superior and more tactically disciplined in the first quarter, and after fifteen minutes, South Africa enjoyed a ten-point lead, ending the quarter 14-4.
The second quarter was no different as the Baby Proteas continued to apply more pressure on Malawi, who were also refusing to back down from this challenge, and it became a very physical affair, frustrating Prinsloo at the South African shooting circle.
The pressure paid dividends, restricting the Baby Proteas to only nine goals, but the pressure was also applied firmly in response by SA, resulting in Malawi only managing to score four goals, for a half-time scoreboard at 23-8 in favour of the tournament hosts.
Head Coach Mthembu made some tactical changes upfront during the championship quarter to give Prinsloo and Ingwersen some rest, introducing Renezia Andrews and Zané Bodenstein to court.
This move seemed to pay off, with the Baby Proteas taking the quarter 10-4 and bringing the overall score to 33-12.
With the last fifteen minutes left to play, the Baby Proteas kept their discipline in what appeared to be a hard game with Malawi’s physicality, but in the end, they grabbed the much-needed victory taking the match 44-19.
In the first match of the day, Tanzania faced off against Zimbabwe. Tanzania were still in search of their first win of the tournament, and Zimbabwe were also looking at bouncing back from their loss against Namibia the night before, but it was Zimbabwe that won the match 62-17.
The day’s middle match featured Zambia against Kenya, with the former having enjoyed a rest day on Tuesday after double fixtures on Monday but with only a single win in their three encounters, while Kenya had no wins in three matches, including two demoralising defeats the day before.
In the final summary, Zambia’s fresher legs were the dividing factor, allowing them a generous 52-32 win over Kenya, now four matches without a win.
Spar Baby Proteas Starting Seven v Malawi on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024
Giada Prinsloo
Lisa Ingwersen
Jade Atkins
Karla Victor
Phophi Nematangari (C)
Sanmarie Visser
Syntiche Kabuya
Bench
Renezia Andrews
Zané Bodenstein
Kyla Dames
Sunel Smit
Favour Umeh
Management
Precious Mthembu – Head Coach
Phumza Maweni – Assistant Coach
Denise Bothma – Team Manager
Nonsikelelo Xaba – Primary Care
Werner Botha – Conditioning Specialist
Day 4 Results at the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa played at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024
13:00 Tanzania 17-62 Zimbabwe
15:00 Zambia 52-32 Kenya
17:00 South Africa 44-19 Malawi
Day 5 Fixtures on Thursday, 21 March, 2024
10:00 South Africa vs Namibia
14:00 Zambia v Malawi
16:00 Namibia v Kenya
Day 1 Results on Sunday, 17 March, 2024
South Africa 75 – 7 Tanzania
Kenya 39 – 49 Zimbabwe
Malawi 43 – 28 Namibia
South Africa 72 – 9 Zambia
Day 2 Results on Monday, 18 March, 2024
Namibia 55 -17 Tanzania
Zambia 37 – 42 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe 29 – 62 South Africa
Tanzania 15 – 52 Zambia
Day 3 Results on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024
South Africa 70-17 Kenya
Malawi 64-24 Tanzania
Kenya 39-42 Malawi
Zimbabwe 44-45 Namibia
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: The Baby Spar Proteas proved their African credentials, beating Malawi at the University of Pretoria in the toughest tie of their World Cup Africa Qualifiers for a healthy leaderboard advantage after day four’s action at the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers Africa played at the University of Pretoria, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024. Photo: Netball South Africa
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