International netball update: Africa Netball Cup – Days 7-8
THE huge eight-day Africa Netball Cup event is done and dusted, with the South Africa Spar Proteas crowned champions following an impressive and undefeated run in Windhoek, Namibia. We run through the final two days’ results.
Check out our wraps of days 1-3 and 4-6 here.
DAY 7 RESULTS
Malawi (60) def. Tanzania (33)
Zimbabwe (57) def. Kenya (46)
South Africa (57) def. Uganda (37)
Namibia (43) def. Zambia (42)
Botswana (44) def. Tanzania (40)
The seventh day of Africa Netball Cup action saw one of the most highly awaited clashes of the series so far play out between South Africa and Uganda. But while Uganda remained strong throughout, the Spar Proteas proved their dominance and showed just what separates the two nations on World Netball rankings. According to South Africa head coach Dorette Badenhorst, the win was testament to the Spar Proteas’ mental strength fighting through a tough opening half before gaining control.
“We knew that it was going to be a physical match against Uganda and we needed to be mentally ready for that one,” Badenhorst explained. “There is a lot happening outside of the four lines however ours is to make sure that we concentrate on the game.
“Playing against other African countries is always tough and as I have been saying since day one, we will underestimate no one, everyone gets the same respect from us.”
Malawi also came away with an impressive win, gaining some valuable confidence ahead of their final day. The 27-goal victory over Tanzania was in fact the greatest margin of the day, outclassing the Tanzanians at every whistle, who in turn worked hard to conserve energy for a second match that evening. Zimbabwe got back on the winners list with a confident 11-goal win over the improved Kenya outfit, while Namibia held on in a nail-biter against Zambia, defeating their higher-ranked foes by just one goal, 43-42. Unfortunately for the winless Tanzania, it was two losses on Day 7 with a tight four-goal loss to Botswana to finish off the penultimate day of competition. Zimbabwe, Botswana and Tanzania all completed their series with the above results, having played all eight of their scheduled matches.
DAY 8 RESULTS
South Africa (65) def. Namibia (39)
Uganda (44) drew Malawi (44)
Zambia (49) def. Kenya (48)
A huge final day of Africa Netball Cup action saw two tight matches follow up another blowout the way of South Africa, with another 26-goal victory over hosts, Namibia, seeing South Africa come away with a clean sweep of the competition. Namibia put up another strong effort to finish fourth overall, but could not combat the cleanliness of the Spar Proteas. South Africa assistant coach, Dumisani Chauke said that the focus was delivering what the Spar Proteas are capable of, and did it well no matter who they came up against.
“We knew that Namibia will give us a run for our money, we understood that they will bring their A-game here today and we needed to be ready for that,” she explained.
“I am really proud of how the girls rallied together and made sure that they deliver for the team. Whoever we put in today understood what the assignment was, regardless of where you come from the KPI’s do not change. We needed to make sure that we deliver.”
A huge medal clash between Malawi and Uganda came down to the wire, with Malawi leading for much of the close match. But the close contest would get even tougher, as Uganda piled on four of the last five goals to draw even with less than 20 seconds on the clock. While the draw was not the desired result for either team, it handed Uganda the silver medal and pushed Malawi into the bronze medal position despite holding on for much of the match. Meanwhile, Zambia clinched a tight one-goal victory over Kenya to secure a sixth placed finish on the overall leaderboard, maintaining control in the dying minute to command the 49-48 result.
MVPS
Player of the Tournament: Bongi Msomi (RSA)
Best Shooter: Jane Chimaliro (MAL)
Best Midcourter: Bongi Msomi (RSA)
Best Defender: Phumza Maweni (RSA)
FINAL STANDINGS
| TEAMS | PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH AFRICA | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| UGANDA | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| MALAWI | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| NAMIBIA | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| ZIMBABWE | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| ZAMBIA | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| KENYA | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| BOTSWANA | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| TANZANIA | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
READ> International netball update: Africa Netball Cup to begin
Diamonds delve into positives despite disapointing result
DESPITE having already lost the series, the Australian Diamonds still came away from Wednesday night’s final Constellation Cup match with something to smile about having convincingly won the final test. Reflecting on it all post match, Diamonds’ head coach Stacey Marinkovich described the importance of winning the match to bookend the year as “huge”. “I […]
Silver Ferns don’t clean sweep but still come away happy
WEDNESDAY’s final Constellation Cup match brought mixed emotions for New Zealand, because although they lost that match they were still able to celebrate post match because they had already won the whole series. Speaking after Wednesday night’s final test of the series, Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua was reflective of it all. “I thought […]
Kelpies big winners, but big picture shows plenty to still be done
DESPITE how things went for the Australian Diamonds in their recent Constellation Cup series against New Zealand, things could not have been more different for the Australian Kelpies, who clean swept their series with the Kiwis after a 71 to 39 goal win in game four yesterday. Speaking after yesterday’s match, star Kelpies’ defender Josh […]
Diamonds win match, but Kiwis still come away with big prize
THE AUSTRALIAN Diamonds have avoided an undesired series whitewash against New Zealand, winning the final match of the 2024 Constellation Cup 63 goals to 50. Proceedings were tight early, but then the Diamonds were able to really put their foot down in the second and third quarters to really open up the game on […]
Lightning strikes twice for Hobson
IMAGINE going in for a routine scan to see how your body is holding up and being told you had no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Being told that the previous surgery you had five years ago wasn’t performed correctly. Being told you had to have a corrective surgery right when you were climbing up ever […]
Kiwis claim series over disappointed Aussies
NEW ZEALAND has won the 2024 Constellation Cup after beating Australia 61-43 in the third test to claim the series. Diamonds’ coach Stacey Marinkovich swung the changes pre match, making three changes to the match day squad and a couple to the starting seven, but ultimately the outcome was the same result. By contrast New […]
NXT Gen League details revealed
IT WAS another important day in English netball overnight with important information released about the new Under 23 feeder league for the Netball Super League (NSL). Confirmed as the NXT Gen League, it has been designed as a development league for younger players trying to get into the NSL. Although most players named in the […]
Kiwis go two up, but not all hope lost for Aussies
NEW ZEALAND’S stranglehold of Constellation Cup matches in New Zealand has continued, after downing Australia again to take a 2-0 lead in the 2024 series. In what might have felt like a sense of déjà vu for Australia and its fans, New Zealand had a strong first half which really catapulted them to the successful […]
Celtic Cup squads begin to be announced
THREE of the four nations competing at the upcoming Celtic Cup have announced their squads for the series over the last few days. Northern Ireland has arguably the biggest names of the three announced squads so far, with Netball Super League stalwarts Michelle Magee, Emma Magee and Niamh Cooper all included. Northern Ireland coach Shenoah […]
