In a fiercely contested Nations Cup final, the SPAR Proteas fell short against England, losing 61-55 at the Copper Box Arena in London.
A capacity crowd of 7,000 witnessed the gripping encounter, which lived up to expectations following the Proteas’ narrow 61-59 victory over England just a week prior.
A Strong Start for the Proteas
South Africa began the match with intensity, showcasing defensive prowess through goalkeeper Sanmarie Visser, who made life difficult for the English shooters. The Proteas maintained their momentum in the opening quarter, leading 15-12 at the first break.
However, England responded swiftly in the second quarter. South Africa missed crucial goal attempts, allowing the hosts to close the gap, level the score, and then take the lead.
By halftime, England had edged ahead 30-28, capitalizing on South Africa’s 16 turnovers—more than their entire game against Malawi the previous day.
England Seizes Control
England continued to build on their advantage in the third quarter, extending their lead to six points. The Proteas faced a major setback when centre Refiloe Nketsa was sent off for dangerous play, leaving them temporarily outnumbered.
Despite this, the South African side showed remarkable resilience, narrowing the deficit to just three points by the end of the quarter, which ended 46-43 in England’s favour.
Coach Jenny van Dyk urged her team to maintain composure and focus on ball control heading into the final quarter. The Proteas fought back, drawing level at 46-46, but England responded with another surge, reclaiming a six-point lead and ultimately securing the championship.
Coach Van Dyk Commends Team’s Spirit
Following the match, van Dyk reflected on the challenges faced by her team, particularly Nketsa’s sending-off. “We need to review what happened there, but there are no excuses. We played six minutes with only six players in a final, and that’s a tough position to be in,” she said.
She praised her team’s resilience under adversity, stating, “The way we fought back, even with a player down, was a testament to the South African spirit. We stayed in the game, and that was our goal from the start.”
Van Dyk also raised concerns about the unique African style of play being overlooked in international officiating and questioned whether adjustments are needed to ensure fair competition.
Despite the loss, she expressed immense pride in her team’s performance. “We’ve been away from home for a long time, but this campaign has been incredible. Congratulations to England—they played exceptionally well.”
The SPAR Proteas are set to return home on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, arriving at OR Tambo International Airport at 9:30 AM.
