Coach Jenny van Dyk and her charges have retained their status as African Champions with a 56-34 win over Uganda, setting a new record as five-time champions of the continental showpiece in Lilongwe, Malawi on Sunday, 14 December, 2025.
The Spar Proteas locked horns with Uganda in the final match of the 2025 Africa Netball Cup as they are on a quest to defend their title. South Africa came into this match beaming with pride and confidence as they are yet to taste defeat in this tournament.
South Africa who are on a mission to win the tournament for the record fifth time were the first ones to get off the mark quicker and commanded the pace of the game. Coach Jenny van Dyk started with a slightly different combination from the one that started their semi-final match.
A notable omission of the day in the line-up was that of Captain Khanyisa Chawane, Elmeré van der Berg captained the team in her absence.
The Proteas continued to exert pressure on their counterparts and at the end of the first quarter, it was South Africa who led 16-7.
With no change to the starting seven after first quarter, the defending champs continued where they left off at fifteen minutes – they piled the pressure on Uganda as they marched towards the finish line. South Africa’s defence was very disciplined as they allowed Uganda to only score nine goals while conceding 11.
At the end of the first half, it was the Proteas who led 27 – 16.
With Refiloe Nketsa already on a caution, coach Jenny van Dyk moved quickly to save her and brought Sanmarie Visser in Goal Defence while moving Jamie van Wyk to Wing Defence to replace Nketsa. The Proteas took the championship quarter 17-10 and taking the overall score to 44-26.
South Africa’s tactical discipline throughout the game carried them and delivered a championship trophy – at the end of the hour, it was who came out on tops and won the match 56 – 34 to be crowned the Champions of Africa for a record breaking fifth time.
“Uganda will make you work the day on that netball court; we knew that we needed to have a very solid game plan and come in very strong. From the onset, we understood that this game would be won in the circle, we needed to figure out how we were going to do that.”
Spar Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk
“I must thank Uganda for a great game of netball and for such a great final, well done to them as well for playing the way they did. As a team, we have our own set target and that is to score 60, we fell short today, but what matters is that we are champions,” said Van Dyk.
The 2025 Best Player Awards went to Elmeré van der Berg (Best Shooter) and Jamie van Wyk (Best Defender).
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Coach Jenny van Dyk and her Spar Proteas have retained their status as African Champions with a 56-34 win over Uganda, in Lilongwe, Malawi on Sunday, 14 December, 2025. All Photos: BLD Communications
Photo 2 Caption: In defending their title, South Africa set a new record as five-time champions of the continental showpiece.
Photo 3 Caption: Player of the Match Kamogelo Maseko passes to 2025 Africa Cup Best Shooter Award winner, Elmeré van der Berg.
