How team culture shaped Mandla Mashimbyi’s Proteas Women into 2025’s history makers

Reflecting on 2025, Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi highlighted his focus on team culture as the key ingredient to their success. The 45-year-old added that creating synergy in language and work ethic across girls’ cricket, domestic cricket and the international game remains high on his to-do list for the future.

When Mashimbyi took over as head coach, he immediately implemented culture camps, making his intentions clear early in his tenure.

He wanted to emphasise team culture, improve it, and create a healthier environment for what was a major year for women’s cricket, with the ICC Women’s World Cup scheduled late in the year.

As a result of those culture camps, the world saw a more united Proteas Women’s side — one that was stubborn, resilient and simply refused to surrender.

These qualities were on display during the World Cup, as captain Laura Wolvaardt and her team relentlessly pursued the elusive trophy.

Ultimately, the Proteas Women made history, becoming the first senior South African side to reach an ICC World Cup final after beating England Women to book their place against hosts India in Navi Mumbai.

Although they lost the final, they left an enduring mark on the global stage — proof that a team with a healthy culture can defy the odds and achieve the previously unthinkable.

In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Mashimbyi revealed that he had done his homework before taking the job and identified team culture as an area in need of attention.

“You’ve got to do a little bit of investigation when you take on a job and try to figure out where the gaps are. By blessing, when I did my investigation, one of the things I picked up aligned with my philosophy as a coach — maybe not so much with other coaches, because they look at things differently,” Mashimbyi said.

“For me, it was an opportunity to instil who I am as a coach. This is what the team needed, and it just fitted like a glove. It’s working out now.

“What’s important is that the girls are buying in and understanding my methods, even though sometimes they can be a little unconventional. But they’re buying in fully, and that’s why we’re starting to see a bit of success.

“The success for me is not only based on results. The success is what happens within the team on a daily basis. We’re seeing a bit of success, and that’s not in the absence of disagreements or squabbles or miscommunication.

“It’s not about avoiding those things — it’s about how quickly we recover when they happen. That’s been a tell-tale sign for me that we’re moving in the right direction.”

Mashimbyi’s team took significant strides this year, but the coach already has his sights on further progress in 2026.

He wants to focus on closing the gap between international cricket and the domestic game, ensuring domestic teams speak the same language as the national set-up.

“I think the main thing is to look after what’s going on downstairs, domestically — schools and clubs. That needs to grow. The understanding of the game needs to grow,” he said.

“The Under-19s have been doing well. There are other elements we need to look after so that when players come into my space, it’s not taboo. It’s something that’s been done throughout the system.

“It’s about creating synergy from schools to Under-19 to domestic cricket and then to me, because I still feel there’s a bit of a gap.

“I want to get to a point where players don’t feel they have to do too much when they come into my space. It must be something they’ve experienced before — the language and work ethic must already be familiar.

“The big thing for me is creating that synergy from top to bottom, or bottom to top.

“When you start doing well, sponsors will come, and people will believe in the product. That will come with time. But there are things we need to tick off for that to happen.”

The Proteas Women are currently hosting Ireland Women for a white-ball tour, but they will also have one eye on next year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Player of the Year — Tazmin Brits

A near-unanimous choice. The top-order batter smashed five centuries this year — the most by any player in the history of women’s cricket.

Highlight — Victory over England in the semi-final

England have long dominated the Proteas in World Cup group stages. Seeing Wolvaardt lead from the front in the semi-final in India was a moment that will live in South African women’s cricket history.

Lowlight — 10-wicket loss in World Cup opener

Ironically, both the high and low points came against England. The opening match was a painful setback as the Proteas were bowled out for just over 70, blown away in a one-sided contest.