South Africa will be looking to continue their dominance on the continent as the Africa Netball Cup kicks off. The Spar Proteas and the senior men’s side will begin their title defence against Tanzania and Botswana respectively at the competition set for 8 to 14 December in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The Jabulani Vilane led side are in Pool A against Zimbabwe, Uganda and neighbours Botswana. While the Proteas are in Pool A with Malawi, Botswana, and Tanzania.
Vilane says although they are looking to secure the title for the third time in a row, he understands that the competition will not be a walk in the park.
"It’s not going to be an easy tournament because all the other teams want to beat South Africa since becoming champs for the first time in 2023 and in 2024 in Namibia. It won’t be easy, but we will try all the strategies that we have planned and all the tactics we have been learning to make sure the team wins and make our country proud again, says Vilane.
He believes he has selected the right squad to win the competition.
"We gave every player an opportunity to express themselves. We gave them programmes to upskill themselves while they were at home. They are raring to go and represent the country. Most of the players in the squad were with us in Namibia, there’s only Njabulo Nekhavhambe who’s new in the team. He will gel in well with the team because he had gone to New Zealand for the Fast5, his experience will come in handy. It is the first time that he’s part of the main national team," he explains.
Vilane is quite confident that his side will be able to successfully defend their title, he believes that this will aid the team’s future as well when competing outside of the continent.
"We are going to defend it because we want to maintain our position on the continent. We also want to go to other continents like Europe, we want to play against the likes of New Zealand, Australia and even England as well because we want to see males’ netball grow especially with the World Cup coming," he says.
World Netball’s announcement of the Men’s Netball World Cup excites Vilane. WN announced their intention to launch the men’s edition of the global tournament in order to grow the sport. This is their continual bid with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include the sport in the quadrennial Games and have it included in the Games. The coach says he is excited about the competition set to launch in 2027.
"We are excited because it is something that we have been praying for. It’s something that we had wished to happen for a long time. I hope netball will grow in the country and that we can have enough time and depth to prepare ourselves well for it so that we can show the world how South Africa plays," he adds.
Meanwhile Spar Proteas coach, Jenny van Dyk, acknowledges that although South Africa is the highest ranking side in its pool or the competition, they will have tough matches against all the teams as the other countries have improved their games. She says she is excited that she will be facing her former side, Dinaledi, which is now coached by Martha Mosoahle- Samm. The Botswana Netball Association appointed Mosoahle-Samm in August in the hopes that she would lead the team to the 2027 Netball World Cup.
“One thing I know is that when you give Botswana a great coach and enough time to prepare they step up to the occasion. None of these matches are matches that we can take lightly. We basically have seven to eight matches before the Commonwealth Games, so for us that is an important game as well. I loved working with Botswana players and I am so happy that Martha has gotten that opportunity as well. I think you will see a great improvement in that Botswana team. I know they spent a lot of time together in camp and they were also at the Spar Champs,” says van Dyk.
The former Gauteng Jaguars coach stresses the importance of playing in the continental competition.
“I am excited about going to defend our title. It is a privilege for us to go to the Africa Cup, it is an important competition for us. It’s important for us to see where we are and our progress that we have made as a team,” she says.
Spar Proteas squad:
Khanyisa Chawane (c), Kyla Dames, Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa, Rolene Streutker, Elmeré van der Berg, Nicola Smith, Juanita van Tonder, Jamie van Wyk, Sanmarie Visser.
Non-travelling reserves: Nicholé Breedt, Entle Futshane, Nozipho Ntshangase.
Proteas men’s squad:
Sicelo Gamede, Shane Labuschagne, Lutendo Maiwashe, Edward Manyathela, Njabulo Nekhavhambe, Romeo Nqcaku, Lwazi Nzama, Gavin Peters, Eugene Sinxezi, Kwandile Sithole, Sibongakonke Vava, Vukile Zulu
Non-travelling reserves: Wandile Gumede, Juan van den Heever, Sandiso Zulu