Up and up, and soon the top
African countries have slowly been stacking up wins in netball, but can they break into the global top four?
Karien Jonckheere
After a year of intracontinental jockeying for position, Africa is making a name for itself on the netball court. Three countries are in the top 10 in the world: South Africa in fifth, Uganda in sixth and Malawi in seventh.
That local rivalry is pushing each team. Last month, South Africa’s netball team, the Proteas, beat the Malawi Queens 3-0 in a Test series. Next up is the Africa Nations Cup in Namibia next week.
“A couple of years ago, South Africa was the only African team that people recognised when it came to netball,” said Proteas assistant coach and former player Zanele Mdodana. “Then Malawi came into play, and now Uganda have put up their hands, so that speaks to the growth of African netball.”
But, while there has been growth and improvement in recent years, the question remains – can an African nation bridge the gap between fifth place and the topfour powerhouses of Australia, England, New Zealand and Jamaica?
South Africa has come closest, with a spot in the 2019 Netball World Cup semifinals. The next world cup – hosted on African soil for the first time, in Cape Town – the Proteas lost to Uganda in the playoff for fifth place.
For African teams to go further, Malawi captain Towera Vinkhumbo reckons the next step has to be a professional league in South Africa.
“It’s going to help again because there are going to be more players outside, not only in Africa but maybe outside Africa coming and playing in this league.”
Mdodana agrees, noting that the gap will begin to be closed when Africa can retain its players. Last month, the president of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, reiterated her goal of making the league a reality in 2025.
The next world cup is in Australia in 2027.