Rising Netball Stars Join Veteran Core in SPAR Proteas Squad for Tests Against New Zealand and Australia

Pretoria – Netball South Africa has revealed the SPAR Proteas squad that will embark on a tour to New Zealand and Australia to face the world’s top-ranked teams in September and October.

Due to injuries affecting Boitumelo Mahloko and unavailability of Syntiche Kabuya, three newcomers have been introduced to the squad for the first time.

This trio of defenders—Entle Futshane, Nozipho Ntshangase, and Juanita van Tonder—has demonstrated remarkable performances with their respective teams in this season’s Telkom Netball League (TNL).

Veteran defender Karla Pretorius is also unavailable this season; however, the team will see the return of seasoned player Shadine van der Merwe, who has been competing in England’s Netball Super League.

Midcourt star Khanyisa Chawane will serve as the captain, alongside the ever-exciting Kamogelo Maseko, TNL Player of the Tournament Tarle Mathe, and Rolene Streutker, the top scorer in this season’s Netball Super League.

National coach of the SPAR Proteas, Jenny van Dyk, clarified on Monday, 11 August 2025, that the trials conducted in Johannesburg over the weekend were the final phase in the team selection process.

“This step was essential to ensure all players had a fair chance to compete for a spot, as many of our core players are engaged in leagues in the UK and elsewhere. We needed to evaluate all identified players alongside the top performers before making our final choices,” she stated.

“To challenge the best in the world, we require players who possess experience, determination, and a tenacious spirit, which we believe our core group embodies,” she continued.

Van Dyk noted that the squad is still evolving as the SPAR Proteas look towards next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“For this tour, we understand that we’re still developing depth in certain key areas, but we have versatile players in our core group who can rise to the occasion, along with a strategy to build the required depth moving forward,” she remarked.

Assistant coach Zanele Mdodana emphasized the importance of this tour in preparation for both the Commonwealth Games and the upcoming Netball World Cup.

“We are approaching these Test matches with the aim of sharpening our skills and measuring our standing against the world’s professional teams. The players are fully aware of our goals and the methods we will use to achieve them,” stated Mdodana.

“With the Commonwealth Games next year and the World Cup in 2027, all our efforts are geared towards meeting our objectives,” she added.

The SPAR Proteas will first engage in a three-Test series against New Zealand on 21, 24, and 28 September in Auckland, Napier, and Invercargill, before heading to Australia for another three-Test series against the 12-time world champions on 4, 8, and 12 October in Bendigo, Wollongong, and Adelaide.

Although the SPAR Proteas faced a defeat to the Aussie Diamonds earlier in 2023, their last encounter with New Zealand’s Silver Ferns resulted in a memorable 48-all draw during the Netball World Cup held in Cape Town, also in 2023.

“We will always strive for victory, even when competing against the best in the world,” assured Van Dyk.

“If we meet the expected standards, anything is achievable.”

SPAR Proteas Team 2025:

• Khanyisa Chawane (C),
• Nicholé Breedt,
• Entle Futshane,
• Kamogelo Maseko,
• Tarle Mathe,
• Owethu Ngubane,
• Refiloe Nketsa,
• Nozipho Ntshangase,
• Nicola Smith,
• Rolene Streutker,
• Elmeré van der Berg,
• Shadine van der Merwe,
• Juanita van Tonder,
• Jamie van Wyk,
• Sanmarie Visser