SPAR Baby Proteas march into quarter-finals with Fiji win

SPAR Baby Proteas continued with their 2025 Netball World Youth Cup winning streak as they thrashed Fiji 86-35 in their final group match. The two nations met for the fourth time and South Africa are yet to taste defeat in this clash.

The SPAR Baby Proteas are also yet to taste defeat at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup and Precious Mthembu’s charges would like to carry the winning streak into the quarter-finals.

Mthembu had made some changes to her starting seven, giving a few of the players that started the opening first three matches a rest. As one would have expected, SPAR Baby Proteas were the first to draw blood and immediately put Fiji on the back foot with the fast-paced game. At the end of the first quarter, South Africa enjoyed a 23-5 lead.

South Africa managed to contain the attack of Fiji in the second quarter and restricted them to scoring only while goals while netting 21 themselves.

The championship quarter saw the SPAR Baby Proteas flying high with the team continuing to press Fiji and making sure that they restricted them to their own half. At the end of the quarter, South Africa led the game 67-22.

South Africa will face off against Cook Islands, who finished second in Pool A in the quarters, after dominating the final quarter as well. The game will start at 7pm on Thursday and will be streamed live on Netball Pass and NWYC YouTube channel.

South Africa’s highest finish at the Netball World Youth Cup is fifth and Mthembu and her charges have set their eyes on improving that and doing better in this year’s edition.

“I am very pleased with the team’s performance today and getting a win against a strong opposition like Fiji. The results set us up nicely for quarter-final match against Cook Islands. We now have to shift our attention and focus on that match. Fortunately for us, we had a practice match against them when we got here so we have a better understanding of what to expect tomorrow,” said a delighted Mthembu.

Fixtures

South Africa v Barbados - Saturday @ 7pm - SA won 102-27

Trinidad & Tobago v South Africa - Monday @ 10am - SA won 105-15

Malawi v South Africa - Tuesday @ 5pm - SA won 64-33

Fiji v South Africa - Wednesday @ 7pm - SA won 86-35

SPAR Baby Proteas Squad

Jade Atkins, Renezia Andrews, Ametise Bandu, Kyla Dames, Mbali Diphoko, Lisa Ingwersen, Luca Keun, Bianca Lubbe, Nonkcubeko Mjaliswa, Phophi Nematangari (captain), Zahrah Noah, Giada Prinsloo, Luane Smith, Karla Victor and Kiara van Eeden.