The Baby Proteas will put the finishing touches to their preparations for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar with a series of warm-up matches against top opposition in London.
South Africa’s national Under-21 netball team have left nothing to chance in the build-up to the global showpiece. Their preparation has included participation in the 2024 SPAR National Championships and the Telkom Netball League, as well as training with the senior Proteas.
Earlier this year, they also completed an impressive 3-0 clean sweep over Jamaica’s Under-21s in Kingston.
The squad will depart for London on Tuesday night, where they will face Netball Super League champions London Pulse, England A, and a mixed club side in three valuable warm-up matches.
The Netball World Youth Cup, which runs from 19–28 September, will be the first since 2017 after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. South Africa finished sixth at the last tournament in Gaborone, but after an eight-year wait, the current group are setting their sights higher.
“We’re definitely aiming to improve on the last World Cup. We’re going there to give it our all … the goal is to reach the podium,” said Baby Proteas captain Phophi Nematangari.
“We are very, very excited that it’s finally happening. It’s been a long journey to get here. Now that the moment has come, I still can’t quite believe it – but the preparations have been exceptional. We’ve put in the work, planted the seeds … now it’s time to reap the rewards.”
Guiding the Baby Proteas is a formidable coaching duo in former senior Proteas stars Precious Mthembu and Phumza Maweni.
“As former players, part of our job is helping the girls understand the magnitude of this challenge and what it means to compete on this stage,” said head coach Mthembu.
“They’ve all stepped up brilliantly. We’re definitely ready. This is our moment. We want to do well in our pool, and I believe all the hard work will pay off.”
Acting president of Netball South Africa, Mami Diale, echoed the optimism ahead of the team’s departure.
“Of course, there is expectation. A top-four finish would be good – a podium even better. But we’re not putting pressure on them. We’re encouraging and supporting them, because this is something we must achieve together,” she said.
South Africa have been drawn in Pool D alongside Fiji, Malawi, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago. They open their campaign against Barbados on 20 September, before facing Trinidad & Tobago (September 22), Malawi (September 23), and Fiji (September 24). The play-off rounds begin the following day, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarter-finals.
