13 NOVEMBER 2021, Windhoek – Match day five saw defending champions South Africa taking on their neighbours from the north Botswana on. The SPAR Proteas came into this match extremely high in confidence after winning against Malawi yesterday and are yet to lose in this tournament.
SPAR Proteas coach Dorette Badenhorst made a few changes to her team giving some of the players a bit of rest. Monique Reyneke and Simoné Rabie paired up at the back while Phumza Maweni and Jamie van Wyk started on the bench for this one. Jessica du Plessis and Elmeré van der Berg also played together upfront in place of Ine-Mari Venter and Lefébre Rademan.
These changes did not affect the team in any way as those that were called up did the business for the team in the first quarter. South Africa was the quickest of the two teams, leading by four points in the first three minutes of the game. South Africa ended the first quarter with an eighteen point lead, taking the quarter 23-5.
The second quarter was no different as the defensive pairing of Rabie and Reyneke held it together and restricted Botswana’s attack to only scoring three points in 15 minutes, however on the other end, the chemistry between Du Plessis and Van Der Berg worked like a charm as they were able to convert their chances and took the team to 44-8 lead at the end of the second quarter.
In the third quarter Badenhorst made some positional changes and brought in free pair of legs into the game. South Africa cemented their place and secured the lead and the win by finishing third quarter with a score line of 62-18. The last quarter saw the SPAR Proteas Badenhorst making more tactical changes, the intention here was to extend the lead, the game finished in favour of South Africa
“For our next game we have to focus on ourselves and game plan. We do not focus much on the opponents. As a team we have our own targets and KPI’s, it is particularly important that we stick to them and achieve them,” Dumisani Chauke, SPAR Proteas Assistant Coach
Quarter Score Breakdown:
Q1: SA 23-5 Botswana
Q2: SA 44-8 Botswana
Q3: SA 62-18 Botswana
Q4: SA 85-24 Botswana
South Africa’s Starting VII:
WA: Khanyisa Chawane; C: Bongiwe Msomi (c); GK: Simoné Rabie; WD: Refioe Nketsa; GA: Jessica du Plessis; GD: Monique Rademan; GS: Elmeré van der Berg.
Botswana’s Starting VII:
WA: Margaret Banda; GA: Hildah Binang; GS: Cheludo David; GD: Letang Mogotlhwane; GK: Fatima Din; WD: Maungo Simone; C: Gosego Tsele.
South Africa will play Zambia on Sunday 14th November 2021 at 17:00 SA time. This match will be streamed live on Netball South Africa’s Facebook page.
