Gibraltar – The SPAR Baby Proteas maintained their unbeaten run in the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, dominating Fiji 86-35 in their final Pool D match in Gibraltar on Wednesday 24 September.
The team have now shifted focus to their quarterfinal berth against the Cook Islands at 19:00 on Thursday 25 September, when they will look to secure their first-ever spot in the last four of a global showpiece.
On Wednesday, the South Africans were clinical in their outing against Fiji, clinching their fourth win of the tournament and their fourth overall victory over the Pacific Islanders.
DOMINANT DISPLAY
Head coach Precious Mthembu made some changes to her starting seven, giving a few of the players who started the opening first three pool matches a rest. The Baby Proteas were the first to draw blood and immediately put Fiji on the back foot with the fast-paced game. At the end of the first quarter, SA enjoyed a 23-5 lead.
In the second quarter, the Baby Proteas managed to contain the Fijian attack and restricted them to scoring only seven goals in reply to their 21.
The Championship quarter saw the lasses in green flying high, as they continued to apply pressure on the islanders and restricted them in their own half. At the end of the quarter, SA led 67-22.
The final quarter saw Fiji fighting hard, but the Baby Proteas contained the onslaught, winning the quarter 20-13 and claiming the spoils with 86-35.
EYE ON THE PRIZE
“I am very pleased with the team’s performance today and getting a win against a strong opposition like Fiji,” a delighted Mthembu said.
“The results set us up nicely for the quarterfinal match against Cook Islands. We must now shift our attention and focus on that match. Fortunately, we had a practice match against them when we arrived, so we have a better understanding of what to expect.”
SA’s highest finish at the Netball World Youth Cup is fifth, but Mthembu and her charges have set their sights on improving that finish and doing better in this year’s edition.
The team has ended at the top of Pool D, following triumphs over Barbados (102-27), Trinidad and Tobago (105-15) and Malawi (64-33).
The game will start at 19:00 on Thursday 25 September and will be streamed live on Netball Pass and Netball World Cup YouTube channel.
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