GLASGOW — Team South Africa brought a turbulent Commonwealth Games campaign to a triumphant close on Friday afternoon, rallying from a first-quarter deficit to defeat African rivals Uganda 62-54 in the 5th-place classification match at The Hydro.
Less than 24 hours after their heartbreaking 58-54 defeat to England dashed medal hopes, Jenny van Dyk’s squad demonstrated admirable resilience. Having opened pool play with dominant wins over Malawi, Tonga, and Northern Ireland before pushing Australia and England to the limit, the Proteas dug deep when tested by an energized She-Cranes side to confirm their status as Africa’s top netball nation in Glasgow.
She-Cranes Blitz Early, Proteas Respond in Second Quarter
Uganda caught South Africa off-guard in the opening 15 minutes. Powered by height in the circle through star Goal Shooter Mary Cholhok (34 goals) and sharp shooting from Shadiah Nassanga (20 goals), the She-Cranes exploited early South African defensive gaps to surge into a surprising 17-12 lead at the first interval.
The turnaround came swiftly in the second quarter. Coach Van Dyk made a crucial tactical adjustment, introducing Tarle Nikkita Mathe at Centre to partner Wing Attack Khanyisa Elaine Chawane. The move injected pace and stability into the midcourt, allowing South Africa to turn defence into swift transition. A ruthless 20-11 second-quarter performance turned a five-goal deficit into a 32-28 halftime lead that the Proteas would never relinquish.
Quarter South Africa Uganda
Q1 12 17
Q2 20 (32) 11 (28)
Q3 16 (48) 13 (41)
Q4 14 (62) 13 (54)
Van der Berg Masterclass Seals Victory
The star of the show was once again Elmeré van der Berg. The towering Goal Shooter delivered a near-perfect shooting masterclass, netting 48 goals from 49 attempts (98%). She received exceptional service from Chawane, who delivered a game-high 31 goal assists and 41 feeds into the circle, and Goal Attack Kamogelo Maseko, who contributed 14 goals (88%) alongside 16 goal assists.
On the defensive end, Nicola Smith and Sanmarie Louise Visser worked tirelessly over the full 60 minutes to combat Uganda’s aerial threat. Smith anchored the circle with three interceptions and three deflections, gradually starving Cholhok of clean supply in the third and fourth quarters as South Africa extended their lead to 48-41 before managing the final period to complete the 62-54 victory.
Looking Ahead: Pride and Promise for the Proteas
Finishing 5th in Glasgow may fall short of the medal podium the Proteas targeted, but the campaign highlighted the immense growth and potential under Van Dyk’s guidance.
With high-margin victories early on, toe-to-toe battles against world heavyweights Australia and England, and a gritty derby victory to close out the tournament, South Africa departs Scotland with heads held high, and a firm foundation established for the international cycles ahead.
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