SOUTH AFRICA FLYING HIGH AT THE AFRICA REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
If ever there was a plane firing with 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.
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 are 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 – it was the Baby SPAR Proteas who were superior of the two and more tactically disciplined in the first quarter – after fifteen minutes South Africa enjoyed a ten point lead ending the quarter 14 – 4.
The second quarter was no different as the Baby SPAR Proteas continued to apply more pressure on Malawi who were also refusing to back down from this challenge – it became a very physical affair by Malawi there by the South African shooting circle frustrating Prinsloo. Baby SPAR Proteas only managed to score nine goals in response to Malawi’s 4. Overall score at half time stood at 23 – 8 to South Africa
During the championship quarter, Mthembu made some tactical changes upfront to give Prinsloo and Ingwersen some rest while introducing Andrews and Bodenstein on court. This seems to have paid off for Baby SPAR Proteas who took the 10 – 4 bringing the overall score to 33 – 12.
With the last fifteen minutes left to play for, the Baby SPAR Proteas kept their discipline in what seemed to be a hard game with Malawi’s physicality. In the end they grabbed the much-needed victory taking the match 44 -19.
In the earlier matches of the day, Tanzania faced off against Zimbabwe. Tanzania are 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. It was Zimbabwe that won the match 62 -17 while Zambia thrashed Kenya 52 -32.
ENDS
Thursday, 21 March 2024 Fixtures
10:00 –South Africa v Namibia
14:00 – Zambia v Malawi
16:00 – Namibia v Kenya
