Proteas coach wary of Uganda threat at Commonwealth Games

Speaking to SABC Sport, van Dyk admitted that Netball South Africa expects strong performances at major tournaments, especially after the painful memories of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Uganda's She Cranes stunned South Africa 54-48. 

The defeat saw Uganda finish fifth, while the Proteas ended sixth. South Africa has once again been drawn in a tough Pool A alongside Uganda, Australia, England, Malawi, Tonga, and Northern Ireland. 

With the two teams set to meet in a warm-up match before the Games, van Dyk believes her side will be much better prepared this time around. 

"At the previous Commonwealth Games we lost to Uganda and that's something we've been talking about a lot. We are working towards a semi-final spot and we do want a medal, but if we don't work in that direction there will have to be something wrong with us. 

"Uganda is a team that we have studied and a team we know, and that's also why we want to play them before we leave because it's very important to see where we are at, at the moment. We are not leaving any stone unturned."

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van Dyk, who enjoyed great success with the Jaguars in domestic netball, hopes the Proteas will avoid another costly defeat to Uganda in a crucial match. 

She believes the preparation camp before the Games will give the team the best chance of reaching the knockout stages.

The most successful coach in South African netball says selecting the final 12-player squad from an 18-player group was one of the toughest decisions she and her coaching staff have had to make. 

van Dyk has also welcomed Netball South Africa's target of reaching the semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games. 

The former University of Pretoria wing attack believes the goal is realistic and says the Proteas are determined to prove they can compete with the world's best in Glasgow.