SPAR Proteas ready to challenge World Champions in Australia

Khanyisa Chawane.

The SPAR Proteas will take on the world champion Australian Diamonds in a three-match series across three states in Australia. South Africa arrived in Australia earlier this week, fresh from their recent series against New Zealand.

Currently ranked fifth in the World Netball Rankings, the SPAR Proteas will come into this series highly motivated and determined to improve on past performances.

Head coach Jenny van Dyk has travelled with a 15-player squad, which includes two debutants: Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder. Van Dyk has emphasised that, for the Proteas to become one of the best teams in the world, they must consistently compete against and challenge higher-ranked opposition.

Flanking the coach was her captain Khanyisa Chawane, who recently celebrated her 100th Test appearance for the SPAR Proteas. Chawane highlighted the importance of performing well against the world champions and what it would mean to secure a win

“As a team we are very confident coming into this series, considering how well we played against New Zealand recently, we believe that we are growing and we will be taking that momentum into this series. We are cautious as well however we understand what is required of us. Leading this team is a privilege I do not take lightly and I am proud of how far we have come for such a young team. We are here to compete and build towards commonwealth games as well. No player should get there (CWG) and feel like they do not know what is expected of them,” she said.

The two nations have met 46 times, with the Diamonds winning all the encounters to date. The SPAR Proteas will be eager to change that record as soon as possible. The last meeting between the sides was in Hobart in 2023.

“The team is settling in very well and thankfully we have no injuries to worry about. We have had few training sessions and practice matches just to get used to the new umpires – it has been good so far. This past series for us was an important one for us in terms of preparing for the future. I can confidently say that we’re in a good place at the moment and have less tension. We are coming here with a lot of self-confidence and we understand that we can be amongst the strongest in the world. We now know what works for us, we need to step is and making that we get the desired results. It is about managing the momentum and ensuring that we construct a game that allows us to have four solid quarters. The team is headed in the right direction, we now know and understand what we are working towards. My players can put up a performance against the best,” said Van Dyk.

Jenny van Dyk.

Fixtures

Saturday – 11.30am @ Red Energy Stadium

Wednesday – 10.30am @ Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Sunday, 12 October – 7.30am @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

SPAR Proteas Squad

Khanyisa Chawane (capt), Nicholé Breedt, Entle Futshane, Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa, Nozipho Ntshangase, Nicola Smith, Rolene Streutker, Elmeré van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe, Juanita van Tonder, Jamie van Wyk, Sanmarie Visser.