By Rahim Abdul
The Malawi Under-21 netball team faced a tough challenge on Monday as they were outclassed by South Africa, falling 64-33 in their third Pool D match at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
The result highlighted the ongoing dominance of South Africa over Malawi in youth netball competitions, as the Junior Proteas once again proved to be a formidable opponent. South Africa’s impressive performance saw them remain unbeaten in the group, winning all three of their matches so far while Malawi have managed two victories and one loss.
Malawi started the tournament on a strong note, securing back-to-back wins against Trinidad & Tobago (65-29) and Fiji (52-51).
However, they struggled to keep up with the speed and precision of the South African side, who dictated the game from start to finish.
The defeat now places extra pressure on Malawi to secure their remaining fixtures in order to qualify for the knockout stages.
Coach and technical staff will be looking to regroup quickly, focusing on fixing defensive lapses and improving shooting accuracy ahead of their next match.
South Africa’s win cements their position as favorites to top Pool D, while Malawi’s dream of progressing further in the competition remains alive but will require a strong response in their upcoming games.
The Netball World Youth Cup, which has attracted the best Under-21 talent from across the globe, continues to showcase rising stars and serves as a crucial platform for countries like Malawi to test their young players against the world’s best.
