SPAR Baby Proteas Continue Winning Streak with Victory Over Malawi at the World Youth Cup
Gibraltar – The Baby Proteas demonstrated their prowess in African netball with a commanding 64 – 33 win over Malawi in their third group D match at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
As the only two African contenders in the tournament, this clash was eagerly awaited for the sake of continental pride.
Both squads arrived having secured two victories each, but South Africa had the upper hand due to a superior goal difference.
In contrast to their earlier opponents, Malawi exhibited a more physical style of play that put the SPAR Baby Proteas to the test; however, South Africa remained steadfast, finishing the first quarter with a 16 -9 edge.
The second quarter saw Malawi ramping up their efforts, restricting South Africa’s movements and compelling longer passes, which benefitted them strategically.
This section of the game was fiercely contested, but the SPAR Baby Proteas narrowly took it 13 – 10, bringing the halftime score to 29 -19 in favor of South Africa.
Revitalized for the second half, the SPAR Baby Proteas quickly found their momentum to extend their lead.
Malawi, however, made a determined comeback, responding vigorously to every challenge. After 15 minutes, the SPAR Baby Proteas secured the championship quarter 15 – 12, boosting the score to 44 – 27 in their favor.
In the final quarter, South Africa tightened its defense, thwarting Malawi’s attempts and clinching victory against their continental rivals.
“It was a tough match against Malawi; we appeared a bit disorganized and sluggish,” remarked Precious Mthembu, Head Coach of the SPAR Baby Proteas.
“Finding our rhythm was challenging, as we expected against a tough Malawi side.”
“They disrupted our court setup, causing delays in our gameplay. Nonetheless, we ultimately regained our tempo, and the team performed well, securing the win.”
South Africa’s next and final pool match is set against FIJI on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, at 19:00.
Quarter Score Breakdown:
Q1 – SPAR Baby Proteas 16 – 09 Malawi
Q2 – SPAR Baby Proteas 29 – 19 Malawi
Q3 – SPAR Baby Proteas 44 – 27 Malawi
Q4 – SPAR Baby Proteas 64 – 33 Malawi
