By OBAKENG MAJE
3 February 2025- The courageous SPAR Proteas upset England on home soil at the 2025 Vitality Nations Cup 61-59 at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Sunday evening. South Africa are the only unbeaten side in the tournament following an impressive 75-40 victory over Uganda on Saturday in their tournament opener.
Before the match against England, currently ranked 4th in the world, the hosts had a stronger historical record against 5th ranked South Africa. England has dominated their encounters, winning 52 out of 69 matches, while South Africa had claimed victory in 16, with the remainder ending in a draw.
SPAR Proteas head coach, Jenny van Dyk expressed satisfaction with the outcome, but stressed that much work remains. Van Dyk praised the team for their consistent hard work.
“The work is not done yet. We still have another weekend to go and the final spot that we need to secure. I think it’s secured, but we want to win that one as well. So there’s still a lot we need to do.
“Sunday’s match was tightly contested, with scores level at the end of the first three quarters. South Africa started strong in the first quarter, but England fought back to equalise. Both teams exchanged goals in the later stages of the opening quarter, with South Africa displaying patience in defence and determination in attack. The opening quarter score was 14-14,” she said.
Van Dyk further said in the second quarter, both teams battled fiercely, concluding a closely contested first half with scores tied at 30-30. She added that it was clear that the final quarter would determine the match’s outcome.
“With the score tied at 46-46 at the end of the third quarter, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. As has become the norm in SPAR Proteas games, the 4th quarter was their strongest.
“They shifted gears in the final quarter and were able to breach the hosts’ defence in quick succession.Thanks to their impressive shooting, the SPAR Proteas maintained a consistent lead. With ten minutes remaining, the SPAR Proteas held a three-goal advantage,” said van Dyk.
Meanwhile, England struggled to keep up with the pace at which South Africa moved the ball in the final quarter, complemented by swift movement and agility. With seven minutes to go, South Africa extended their lead to nine points.
A late onslaught by the host nation was not enough to draw level, as they fell short by two points, losing the final quarter 13-15. This 61-59 win propelled the SPAR Proteas to the top of the four-team table.
The Guardian 