Shane Labuschagne - Men’s netball growth makes Africa Cup title tougher to defend

The Protea Warriors edged Eswatini 49 - 45 in a tightly contested final at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Kenya, to retain their continental crown.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Labuschagne says the team achieved its primary objective of returning home with the trophy, despite not producing the big winning margins they have become accustomed to.

“It was a really tough week. Each and every game was closely contested and our biggest winning margin was 10 goals against Malawi. It just shows that each country is growing. It’s a massive accomplishment to still be able to take the trophy home, because it ain’t easy at all anymore.

“I think each and every individual in the team works really hard behind the scenes. It’s the work that is being put in by each individual, helping us maintain the unbeaten record at the Africa Cup,” said Labuschagne.

The 24-year-old says the final against Eswatini was particularly demanding, with their opponents showing significant improvement and making it clear that South Africa could no longer expect an easy ride.

“Eswatini have improved tremendously. They have structure now and they are hard to beat. They have a tough one-on-one defence system, and their midcourt delivers the ball successfully to their shooters. I’m glad our boys took control and led throughout the entire match,” added Labuschagne.

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With World Netball having introduced a men’s division to its international competition calendar, the sport is entering a new phase of growth.

Following the inaugural edition, the Men’s Netball World Cup will become a biennial tournament from 2028.

Labuschagne believes the development provides an important platform to grow the men’s game, while also creating opportunities for young players to enter the sport.