2012 Diamond Challenge

{{Short description|International netball series hosted by South Africa}}

{{Infobox international netball competition

| title = Diamond Challenge

| year = 2012

| image =

| image_size =

| dates = 15–18 August 2012

| host_country = South Africa

| city = Pretoria

| venues = Heartfelt Arena

| TV = SuperSport (South Africa)

| winners = South Africa

| second = Malawi

| third = Botswana

| num_teams = 4

| scoring_leader =

| prev_season =

| next_season = 2013

}}

The 2012 Diamond Challenge was the inaugural Diamond Challenge netball series. It featured South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia. The series was played in August 2012 at Pretoria's Heartfelt Arena.{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/supersport-to-broadcast-diamond-challenge/|title=SuperSport to Broadcast Diamond Challenge|publisher=gsport.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819070623/https://gsport.co.za/supersport-to-broadcast-diamond-challenge/|archive-date=19 August 2012|date=14 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.up.ac.za/netball/news/post_1736138-netball-diamond-challenge|title=Netball Diamond Challenge – Heartfelt Arena 15 – 18 August 2012|publisher=www.up.ac.za|date=14 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://netballscoop.com/2012/08/weakened-south-africa-triumphs-malawi-diamond-netball-challenge-final/|title=Weakened South Africa triumphs over Malawi in Diamond Netball Challenge Final|publisher=netballscoop.com|date=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182949/https://netballscoop.com/2012/08/weakened-south-africa-triumphs-malawi-diamond-netball-challenge-final/|archive-date=21 December 2018|access-date=23 August 2024}} Malawi won the group stage of the series, winning all three matches, including defeating South Africa 47–42 in their third match.{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-beat-south-africa-in-netball-diamond-challenge/|title=Malawi beat South Africa in Netball Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.nyasatimes.com|date=17 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/queens-have-diamond-challenge-advantage/|title=Queens Have Diamond Challenge Advantage|publisher=gsport.co.za|date=18 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}} However, it was South Africa who won the overall series, after they defeated Malawi 47–43 in the final.{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/sa-down-malawi-at-diamond-challenge/|title=SA Down Malawi at Diamond Challenge|publisher=gsport.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017211338/https://gsport.co.za/sa-down-malawi-at-diamond-challenge/|archive-date=17 October 2021|date=18 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.up.ac.za/netball/news/post_1736086-jubilant-proteas-dethrone-malawi-queens-47-43|title=Jubilant Proteas dethrone Malawi Queens 47-43|publisher=www.up.ac.za|date=19 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}} The series was broadcast live on SuperSport in South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/supersport_to_broadcast_the_netball_diamond_challenge/|title=SuperSport to broadcast the Netball Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.sportspromedia.com|date=14 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}

Head coaches and captains

class="wikitable collapsible"

! Team

! Head coach

! Captain

{{nb|South Africa}}Elize KotzeZanele Mdodana
{{nb|Botswana}}Kagisano Mawela{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/win-over-botswana-opens-diamond-challenge/|title=Win Over Botswana Opens Diamond Challenge|publisher=gsport.co.za|date=16 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}
{{nb|Malawi}}Griffin Saenda{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/buoyant-malawi-queens-off-to-south-africa-for-diamond-challenge/|title=Buoyant Malawi Queens off to South Africa for Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.nyasatimes.com|date=13 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}Grace Mwafulirwa
{{nb|Zambia}}Annie Mukamba{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/zambia-make-sa-work-hard-for-win/|title=Zambia Make SA Work Hard for Win|publisher=gsport.co.za|date=17 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}

{{small|Source:}}

Group stage

=Round 1=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 15 August 2012

| time = 18:15

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| score = 75–32

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

|venue =

}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-beat-zambia-in-opening-match-of-netball-diamond-challenge/|title=Malawi beat Zambia in opening match of Netball Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.nyasatimes.com|date=15 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 15 August 2012

| time = 19:45

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 55–26

| team2 = {{nb|Botswana}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| venue =

}}

{{small|Source:}}

=Round 2=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 16 August 2012

| time = 18:00

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| score = 63–29

| team2 = {{nb|Botswana}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

|venue =

}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-queens-thrash-botswana-in-diamond-challenge/|title=Malawi Queens thrash Botswana in Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.nyasatimes.com|date=16 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 16 August 2012

| time = 19:45

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 47–34

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 = Lucy Jere {{nb-goal|22|26}}

| goals2 = Melissa Myburgh {{nb-goal|34|43}}

| venue =

}}

{{small|Source:}}

=Round 3=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 17 August 2012

| time = 18:00

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Botswana}}

| score = 59–41

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

|venue =

}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 17 August 2012

| time = 19:45

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 42–47

| team2 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| venue =

}}

{{small|Sources:}}

Final table

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
width="25" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}}

! width="200"| {{Abbr|Team|Team}}

! width="25" | {{Abbr|P|Games played}}

! width="25" | {{Abbr|W|Wins}}

! width="25" | {{Abbr|L|Losses}}

! width="25" | {{Abbr|D|Draws}}

! width="30" | {{Abbr|GF|Goals For (Total goals scored)}}

! width="30" | {{Abbr|GA|Goals Against (Total goals conceded)}}

! width="30" | {{Abbr|GD|Goal Difference (GF−GA)}}

! width="30" | {{Abbr|Pts|Total points}}

style="background:#e6efff"

| 1

| style="text-align:left" |{{nb|Malawi}}

3300185103826
style="background:#e6efff"

| 2

| style="text-align:left" |{{nb|South Africa}}

3210144107374
style="background:#fff6e6"

| 3

| style="text-align:left" |{{nb|Botswana}}

3120114159–451
style="background:#fff6e6"

| 4

| style="text-align:left" |{{nb|Zambia}}

3030107181–741

{{legend2|#e6efff|Qualified for Final|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#fff6e6|Qualified for 3rd/4th place match|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

Playoffs

=3rd v 4th Playoff=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 18 August 2012

| time = 12:00

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Botswana}}

| score = 45–36

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

|venue =

}}

=Final=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 18 August 2012

| time = 13:40

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 47–43

| team2 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Mwai Kumwenda {{nb-goal|39|41}}

| venue =

}}

;Teams

border=0 class="wikitable" width=100%
valign=top|Head Coach:
Elize Kotze

----

Starting 7:
{{small|GS}} Chrisna Bootha
{{small|GA}} Maryka Holtzhausen
{{small|WA}} Zanele Mdodana (c)
{{small|C}} Thuli Qegu
{{small|WD}} Bongiwe Msomi
{{small|GD}} Karla Mostert
{{small|GK}} Vanes-Mari du Toit

----

Squad:
{{small|WD, C}} Nosiphiwo Goda
{{small|C, WD}} Precious Mthembu
{{small|GS, GA}} Melissa Myburgh
{{small|WD, GK}} Adele Niemand
{{small|GD}} Anneret Viljoen

|valign=top|Head Coach:
Griffin Saenda

----

Starting 7:
{{small|GS}} Mwai Kumwenda
{{small|GA}} Sindi Simtowe
{{small|WA}} Beatrice Mpinganjira
{{small|C}} Bridget Kumwenda
{{small|WD}} Grace Mwafulirwa (c)
{{small|GD}} Caroline Mtukule
{{small|GK}} Towera Vinkhumbo

----

Squad:
{{small|C, WA}} Thandie Mwale Galleta
{{small|GD, WD}} Joanna Kachilika
{{small|GS}} Tina Kamuyambeni
{{small|GD, WD}} Joyce Mvula
{{small|GD, GK}} Loreen Ngwira

{{small|Sources:}}

Award winners

class="wikitable collapsible"
style="background:white;" | Award

! style="background:white;" | Winner

! style="background:white;" | Team

Player of the TournamentMwai Kumwenda{{nb|Malawi}}

References