The Spar Proteas left the shores of South Africa this week ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the hopes of further strengthening their position in the World netball standings.
The Spar Proteas left the shores of South Africa this week ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the hopes of further strengthening their position in the World netball standings.
The squad consists of 15 players, and four officials, and this will be the first year in South African history that all the players in the squad will be contracted to Netball South Africa (NSA).
“Over the past three years I have been speaking about the need for, and the importance of, turning the sport professional,” NSA president Cecilia Molokwane said via an official statement from NSA.
The contracts, which are performance based, went into effect on the 1st of April, and will run until next year December, after the 2023 Netball World Cup, taking place from 28 July to 6 August at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town
“We are making history having these players as the first group of contracted players in South Africa,” Proteas head coach, Dorette Badenhorst said. While 24 players managed to secure these first contracts, not all of them will be heading to Birmingham this month
Wishing our SPAR Proteas a safe journey as they travel to the UK 🇿🇦🛫🇬🇧
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) July 12, 2022
South Africa will face Wales 🏴 on 19 & 20 July before meeting up with the rest of @TeamSA2024 to compete @birminghamcg22 🥇🥈🥉#SPARProteas | #WeAreAllIn | #TeamSA pic.twitter.com/Jco24vxu0T
In 2018, South Africa finished in fifth position at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and in 2019 they secured fourth place at the World Cup. All eyes will be on the Proteas and captain, Bongiwe Msomi, to make it into the top spots this year.
The Proteas, featured in Group A, will kick off their 2022 tournament on the 30th of July, when they face Jamaica, currently ranked number four in the world. South Africa will also battle it out against Australia, Scotland, Wales and Barbados.
Proteas Squad: Khanyisa Chawane, Izette Griesel, Boitumelo Mahloko, Phumza Maweni, Tshinakaho Mdau, Bongiwe Msomi (Captain), Lenize Potgieter, Lefebre Rademan, Monique Reyneke, Nicola Smith, Nichole Taljaard, Elmere van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe, Ine-Mari Venter and Zanele Vimbela.
Proteas Fixtures
Saturday, 30 July: Jamaica vs South Africa
Sunday, 31 July: South Africa vs Barbados
Monday, 1 August: Australia vs South Africa
Wednesday, 3 August: South Africa vs Wales
Thursday, 4 August: South Africa vs Scotland
Saturday, 6 August: Semi-final
Sunday, 7 August: Final
