Badenhorst: Proteas have a great future ahead

PROTEAS coach Dorette Badenhorst hailed her team’s 54-48 win over England in Cape Town on Sunday as the first steps towards a “great future”.

The England Roses walked away with the spoils thanks to a 2-1 series victory which could easily have ended in a draw. The Proteas insisted that the first match end in a result after it finished in a draw after regulation time.

England went on to win the first and second encounters with the Proteas winning the dead rubber on Sunday.

“It was a team effort, and we knew we could do it if the attack and defence can get together,” Badenhorst said.

“These players just want to get better, and they’ve got such a great future.”

The six-point win was their largest over England since their 77-54 victory in Manchester in 1995.

Badenhorst believes she is on the right track fulfilling her mandate of growing the Proteas’ depth of talent.

“It is all about trust and combinations. The more we play together and combinations I try out they can develop in each other,” Badenhorst said.

“We’ve got 12 brilliant players, I can put anyone on the court, and they will perform. Today’s combinations just worked for us and making changes at the right time.”

South Africa will face their biggest challenge in January when they play in the four-nation Nations Cup in the United Kingdom against England, Jamaica and defending world champions New Zealand.

“This win gives the players a lot of confidence bringing in new players and start believing in each other,” Badenhorst said.