Basadi in Action Sports

Defending champions North West University (NWU Eagles) and the University of Johannesburg (Orange Army) will meet in a highly anticipated Varsity Netball 2026 final in Mahikeng on Monday, 28 September, 19:00 with both sides carrying compelling stories into the title showdown. NWU Eagles For NWU, the occasion is an opportunity to defend their crown and demonstrate the character that has taken them back to the final. For UJ, it is another chance to finally break through after several years of near misses and potentially complete a remarkable USSA and Varsity Netball double. The two teams are no strangers to each other. UJ handed NWU their first defeat of the campaign in the round-robin stage, claiming a 60–43 victory. However, with the title now on the line, both camps insist that previous results will have little bearing on Monday's contest. NWU vice-captain Armoni Matthee says confidence is high within the Eagles camp after what has been a strong tournament. “The team is feeling ve...

The SPAR Proteas wrapped up their 2026 Africa Netball Cup pool-stage campaign with a fourth consecutive victory after defeating Namibia 55–33 in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday. The defending champions maintained their unbeaten record throughout Pool 1, following victories over Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Their latest result ensured that South Africa finished the group stage with a perfect four-from-four record as they continue their title defence. South Africa made a strong start against the Debmarine Desert Jewels, taking control of the contest from the opening whistle. The Proteas led 16–8 at the end of the first quarter before extending their advantage to 33–16 at half-time. Head coach Jenny van Dyk used the opportunity to rotate her squad in the third quarter, introducing fresh legs as South Africa continued to manage the game. Namibia responded with a determined showing, winning the third quarter 10–8, but the Proteas still entered the final quarter with a comfortable ...

A single fixture will be played this weekend with Copperbelt Ladies hosting Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the Baroka Village in Ga-Mphahlele. Owing to the Brazilians' commitments in the COSAFA CAF Champions League qualifying round, this fixture was postponed to allow Sundowns to fully focus on the regional tournament. With the rest of the teams having already played nine matches, Copperbelts and Banyana Ba Style are playing a catch-up fixture.  Coach Godfrey Sapula's charges have started this season on a high and are scoring goals in clusters. Sundowns is sitting at the summit of the Super Era stream with a clean record, having won eight games out of eight. With 24 points in the bag and a five-point gap between them and a second-placed University of the Western Cape (UWC), the defending champions will look to extend the margins to eight with a victory over Copperbelt. Sundowns has scored 26 goals without conceding any. Copperbelt is in position five with 15 points. Though the Lim...

The Springbok Women will be looking to put their disappointing opening result behind them when they take on Italy in the WXV Global Series on Saturday. South Africa’s European campaign got off to a difficult start last weekend as they suffered a 50–19 defeat to Wales in Cardiff. The result was a tough one for a side that had shown encouraging form earlier in the year, but attention has quickly shifted to the next challenge. Saturday’s match gives South Africa an opportunity to respond on the field and show the character that has been a feature of their recent progress. The team had reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time and entered the WXV Global Series having recorded six wins from eight Tests in 2026. Italy will also enter the match with confidence after opening their campaign with a convincing 55–21 victory over Japan. Their squad includes a mixture of experienced players and newcomers, making them a difficult side for South Africa to overl...

The SPAR Proteas continued their impressive start to the Africa Netball Cup with a convincing 58–41 victory over Zimbabwe, but the result carried an even greater significance for defender Refiloe Nketsa, who celebrated her 50th Test cap in a truly memorable full-circle moment. Nketsa’s milestone came against the very same team she made her senior international debut against in 2021, and in the same tournament where her journey at international level began.Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Nketsa described it as a moment she will treasure for the rest of her career. “My 50th cap is a full-circle moment for me. My debut was against Zimbabwe in 2021. How beautiful is it to have my 50th milestone against the same team I started my netball senior career against and in the very same tournament?” For Nketsa, the milestone was not simply about reaching 50 international appearances. It represented the growth she has experienced both as a player and as a person since making her deb...

Saturday’s football action in the SAFA women's provincial league produced plenty of excitement, with Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs Ladies and the University of Johannesburg FC among the teams making an impression in a competitive round of matches. Mamelodi Sundowns showed their resilience on the road, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over North West University Vaal. The result earned Sundowns all three points from a closely contested encounter and provided another boost to their campaign. University of Johannesburg FC produced one of the standout performances of the day, recording a convincing 3-0 win over Mamelodi 11 Stars Ladies. UJ’s attacking quality and control allowed them to dominate the contest and finish the afternoon with a comfortable victory. Kaizer Chiefs Ladies also walked away with maximum points after overcoming Young Achievers FC 2-0. Chiefs kept their opponents at bay while finding the back of the net twice, demonstrating their ability to manage the game and ...