BONUS - RUSTENBURG - Netball South Africa has officially announced the Under-21 national squad, the SPAR Baby Proteas, for the upcoming 2025 Netball Youth World Cup, which will take place in Gibraltar from 19-28 September. The announcement was made by Acting President Mami Diale, highlighting the team's preparations and previous successes leading up to this prestigious event.
The Baby Proteas, led by Coach Precious Mthembu, have shown strong performance in recent competitions, including a flawless record in the Africa World Youth Cup qualifiers and a dominant international series against Jamaica's Under-21 team. The squad was narrowed down from a larger pool of players through evaluations in various tournaments, including the Telkom Netball League (TNL).
In Pool D, South Africa will face tough competition from Barbados, Malawi, Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago. The selection process, which began three years ago, aimed to find players who exemplified dedication and teamwork, ensuring a competitive edge in the tournament.
The selected squad comprises 15 promising players, including Captain Phophi Nematangari and aims to continue South Africa's legacy in netball on the world stage. SPAR Baby Proteas Under-21 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.
