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Proteas get ball rolling at Common wealth games

By Siyasanga Monoalibe
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Proteas get ball rolling at Common wealth games
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 20: Mami Diale (acting President of Netball SA) during the Telkom Netball League, Power Week 3, Division 1 final match between Crinums v Fireballs at Durban International Convention Centre on July 20, 2025 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

The long-awaited Commonwealth Games are officially underway and the Netball Proteas got the ball rolling against fellow African counterparts, Malawi, in Glasgow, Scotland, lastnight. They face Tonga in their second game today at 5pm (SA time).

South Africa have been pitted against some of the formidable world heavyweights Australia and England in Pool A, as well as Malawi, Tonga and Northern Ireland.

With only the top two progressing to the semi-finals, the Proteas will have to dig deeper than ever before to improve their disappointing sixth-place finish at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, and ultimately get closer to their best-ever finish since the 1998 in Malaysia, where they finished fourth after losing to England.

“We believe that the players are ready for the task ahead of them. The team is ready and should be able to compete for top honours,” Netball SA president Mami Diale told Sunday World ahead of the Games.

“The team showed great confidence against England at the start of the year and managed a 2-1 series victory. This was a great indication that they are ready to compete at the Commonwealth Games.”

Despite the Proteas going to the games under the guidance of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and not Netball SA, Diale said she is hoping that coach Jenny van Dyk and her team will utilise the opportunity to prepare for the Africa Cup and Netball World Cup next year.

“The team is not going to Commonwealth as the Spar Proteas but rather as part of Team South Africa under the leadership of Sascoc.

But what we are hoping for is for them to do well in Glasgow because the squad chosen is part of the bigger team.

“So, we hope that the coaches will get a chance to assess the team and build from there, as we prepare for Africa Cup later in the year and 2027 Netball World Cup,” she added.

  • The Commonwealth Games have begun, with South Africa’s Netball Proteas starting against Malawi in Glasgow.
  • South Africa competes in Pool A alongside strong teams: Australia, England, Malawi, Tonga, and Northern Ireland.
  • Only the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals; the Proteas aim to surpass their 2022 sixth-place finish and improve on their best fourth place in 1998.
  • Netball SA president Mami Diale expressed confidence in the team’s preparedness and highlighted their strong performance against England earlier this year.
  • Though competing under Sascoc and not Netball SA, the team will use the Games to prepare for the upcoming Africa Cup and 2027 Netball World Cup.
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The long-awaited Commonwealth Games are officially underway and the Netball Proteas got the ball rolling against fellow African counterparts, Malawi, in Glasgow, Scotland, lastnight. They face Tonga in their second game today at 5pm (SA time).

South Africa have been pitted against some of the formidable world heavyweights Australia and England in Pool A, as well as Malawi, Tonga and Northern Ireland.

With only the top two progressing to the semi-finals, the Proteas will have to dig deeper than ever before to improve their disappointing sixth-place finish at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, and ultimately get closer to their best-ever finish since the 1998 in Malaysia, where they finished fourth after losing to England.

“We believe that the players are ready for the task ahead of them. The team is ready and should be able to compete for top honours,” Netball SA president Mami Diale told Sunday World ahead of the Games.

“The team showed great confidence against England at the start of the year and managed a 2-1 series victory. This was a great indication that they are ready to compete at the Commonwealth Games.”

Despite the Proteas going to the games under the guidance of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and not Netball SA, Diale said she is hoping that coach Jenny van Dyk and her team will utilise the opportunity to prepare for the Africa Cup and Netball World Cup next year.

“The team is not going to Commonwealth as the Spar Proteas but rather as part of Team South Africa under the leadership of Sascoc.

But what we are hoping for is for them to do well in Glasgow because the squad chosen is part of the bigger team.

“So, we hope that the coaches will get a chance to assess the team and build from there, as we prepare for Africa Cup later in the year and 2027 Netball World Cup,” she added.