BOKSBURG – Johannesburg claimed their fourth successive SPAR National Netball Championships title on Saturday with a nail-biting 52-51 victory over Cape Town in Boksburg, matching the margin of their triumph twelve months earlier.
The victory represented a remarkable turnaround for the defending champions, who had endured a difficult start to the tournament with an opening defeat to Cape Town on Monday, followed by a draw against Mangaung the subsequent day.
Coach Elsjé Jordaan, the former SPAR Proteas captain, was visibly emotional after her team’s triumph. “I actually have no words, I’m so proud, the growth over the week is just amazing,” she said. “There was so much pressure on us with all the JNA [Johannesburg Netball Association] teams performing so well, we couldn’t let them down.”
The final proved to be as dramatic as anticipated, with Johannesburg establishing an early advantage through their pace to lead 16-10 at the first interval. Cape Town responded by slowing the tempo in the second quarter, scoring five consecutive goals to edge ahead by half-time.
The Johannesburg side regained their composure after the break and entered the final quarter with a five-goal cushion. However, late errors allowed Cape Town to mount a dramatic comeback, equalising with less than a minute remaining.
With possession still in their hands, Johannesburg held their nerve under intense pressure to score the decisive goal with no time remaining for a response, triggering jubilant celebrations from players and supporters.
Players reflect on dramatic turnaround
Captain Tinita van Dyk reflected on her team’s week-long journey to the title. “Our tournament started really difficult. I think it was good that we struggled so much on the first day. That forced us to really go back to the drawing board and see what we had to improve on,” she said.
“It was a massive fight from the team… It was a much better start than yesterday. Very relieved about the start that we had. I think that gave the whole team a bit of confidence to know that we were in it.”
Cape Town’s goal attack and SPAR Proteas player Nicholé Breedt praised her opponents whilst expressing disappointment at her team’s defeat. “I think every small error we made, they really capitalised on, and I must give it to them. They worked really hard today from beginning to end,” she said.
“I think we’ve grown a lot throughout the week, and I’m very proud of who we are, not only as players, but people as well. So hard luck for us today, but we’re not done.”
In the third-place play-off, Mangaung defeated Dr Kenneth Kaunda 54-53 in another closely contested encounter.
Under-21 champs complete dominant week
The Under-21 A section final saw defending champions Johannesburg maintain their dominance with a comfortable 44-33 victory over Dr Kenneth Kaunda. The Johannesburg side, coached by former SPAR Proteas captain Bongi Msomi, established early control with a 12-5 first-quarter lead before extending their advantage to 26-13 by half-time.
Msomi, who admitted she prefers coaching to playing, reflected on leading the team to consecutive titles after failing to win a single match in 2023. “It feels really good. It’s funny how we talk about being an underdog one year, then the next year you’re actually a threat,” she said.
Newly elected Netball South Africa president Mami Diale emphasised the tournament’s significance for the sport’s development. “The SPAR National Netball Championships remains one of the most important pillars of our netball development system. It brings together talent from every province, creates opportunities for young players to be seen, and strengthens the pathways into high-performance environments.”
She also acknowledged the continued support of sponsors, particularly SPAR, for their “unwavering commitment to women’s sport and community development”.
Results
Senior A Section
- Final: Johannesburg 52 – 51 Cape Town
- 3rd/4th place play-off: Mangaung 54 – 53 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Player Awards:
- Best shooter: Sian Moore (Cape Town)
- Best midcourt player: Sanelisiwe Ntomi (Johannesburg)
- Best defender: Thulisile Maduna (eThekwini)
- Player of the Tournament: Amber Coraesen (Cape Town)
Under-21 A Section
- Final: Johannesburg 44 – 33 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
- 3rd/4th place play-off: Tshwane 41 – 37 Cape Town
Player Awards:
- Best shooter: Giada Prinsloo (Johannesburg)
- Best midcourt player: Naledi Nakoa (Tshwane)
- Best defender: Eloné Dippenaar (Cape Town)
- Player of the Tournament: Boitumelo Mokoena (Johannesburg)
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