Sports
Proteas Gear Up for Key Battles in Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series Against Jamaica

The South African netball team, the Spar Proteas, are looking to counter Jamaica’s formidable goal shooter, Shimona Jok, as they aim to get back into the three-match Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series. After a tough 55-47 loss in the first Test at the National Indoor Stadium in Kingston, the Proteas are focusing on ways to contain Jamaica’s high-ranking team, led by Jok.
Jok, a towering 1.95m goal shooter, dominated the shooting circle in the opening match, scoring 38 goals from 39 attempts. South Africa’s defense, led by goalkeeper and captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, struggled to contain her, with England-born wing attack Rhea Dixon adding pressure as she upped the tempo for Jamaica.
Proteas assistant coach Zanele Mdodana identified key areas for the team’s improvement going forward. “It’s about South Africa’s ability to turn the ball earlier before it gets offloaded into the shooting circle,” she said in an exclusive interview with Independent Media Sport. “We need to win the mid-court battle, so a lot of mid-court pressure is going to be key for us.”
Mdodana emphasized the importance of building a good lead early in the match, staying ahead, and focusing on preventing errors. She believes that if the Proteas can exert pressure in the mid-court and control possession, they can neutralize Jamaica’s attacking threat.
The team had a promising start in the first Test, drawing level 12-all at the end of the first quarter, but an injury to goalkeeper Nicola Smith disrupted their momentum. Despite this, Mdodana urged her team to remain resilient against the loud and enthusiastic home crowd, which often fuels the Sunshine Girls’ performance.
“We need to welcome the challenge, embrace the physicality, and rise above the pressure to pull through,” Mdodana said, highlighting the need for the team to stay competitive for the full 60 minutes.
In their 18 previous encounters, the Proteas have won three times, including a memorable victory in the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, where they triumphed 55-52 to secure a place in the semifinals.
The next Test match in the series takes place on Thursday at 2 am SA time, followed by the final match on Sunday, January 26, at 1 am SA time.
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