Australian Kelpies provide early World Cup test for SA men’s netball team

The South African men’s national netball team are preparing for one of their toughest challenges yet when they face the Australian Kelpies in three curtain-raisers to the Test series between the Spar Proteas and England's Vitality Roses.

The Spar Challenge at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg plays a key role in the women’s build-up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year. For the men, however, the focus is longer term, with the squad in the early stages of planning for the inaugural Men’s Netball World Cup in 2028.

Former national team captain Shiko Mokaila has taken over as head coach from Jabulani Vilane, who guided the team to back-to-back Africa Netball Cup titles in Malawi in December. Mokaila has stressed the importance of using his first series in charge to continue raising the profile of the men’s game in South Africa while building squad depth.

“We want to get those connections with all the boys and the men who are involved, so that come the World Cup we’re all ready. Players just need to remain coachable,” Mokaila said at the series launch in Johannesburg earlier this week.

“We don’t really have a lot of playing opportunities but we make the most of what we have. And from what we had in Malawi as African champs, we decided not to really disrupt the spine of the team that we’re working on. With a bit of youth that’s also coming, it’s quite important for us.

“But the conversation that we’re having with Netball South Africa is that we need more development when it comes to that, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

The first match in the Spar Challenge takes place on Thursday at the Ellis Park Arena, followed by matches on Saturday and Sunday.