Proteas charge against powerhouse Jamaica led by captain Chawane

Rowan Callaghan

Netball South Africa have named a strong Proteas squad to front up to the highly rated Jamaican team in the three-Test Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series in Kingston.

Fresh from guiding the Proteas to Africa Netball Cup glory in December, captain Khanyisa Chawane will once again lead the team in the Tests at the National Indoor Sports Centre on January 18, 22 and 25.

Chawane was named the Player of the Tournament, and will be eager to continue from where she left off in Namibia.

The dynamic Elmere van der Berg, named the best shooter in Namibia, also makes the 15-member squad that was announced on Thursday.

The squad will leave for the Caribbean on Friday.

However, national coach Jenny van Dyk had already revealed that star goal defence Karla Pretorius was being rested for the tour, and would be replaced by rising star Sanmarie Visser.

“Karla has a young child, and we will be going to the UK after Jamaica, and that’s a long time to be away from your child,” said Van Dyk.

“I am very excited about Sanmarie, and we need to start building for the future.” Jamaica, currently ranked third in the world behind Australia and New Zealand, will be formidable opponents, and the South Africans have only won three of their 18 encounters.

Proteas assistant coach Zanele Mdodana, who was a member of the SA A team when they last played in Jamaica, is aware of the challenge they face.

“It’s tough to play Jamaica at home,” she said.

“They fill those arenas to capacity … they’ve got the dance, the song. Those spectators come out in full support of their team. But we made history when we went there under coach Elize Kotze and beat them.” From Jamaica, the Proteas will travel to the UK to play in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup next month.

The Baby Proteas (SA Under-21 team) will also travel to the Caribbean to play a friendly series against their Jamaican counterparts.

It will serve as valuable preparation for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, scheduled for September in Gibraltar.

“This experience will benefit the Proteas and lay the foundation ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and prepare the babies for the World Cup,” Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane said at the team announcement.

Baby Proteas coach Precious Mthembu added: “What a privilege it is to start the year with some tough competition.

“It’s something that we really need to start measuring ourselves among the best in the world.

“There is no way of doing it besides tough, brutal competition and some game-time.”