2015 Diamond Challenge

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

{{Infobox international netball competition

| title = Diamond Challenge

| year = 2015

| image =

| image_size =

| dates = 16–19 June 2015

| host_country = South Africa

| city = Margate, KwaZulu-Natal

| venues = Ugu Sports Centre

| TV = SuperSport (South Africa)

| winners = South Africa

| second = Malawi

| third = Uganda

| num_teams = 4

| scoring_leader =

| prev_season = 2013

| next_season = 2016

}}

The 2015 Diamond Challenge was the third Diamond Challenge netball series. It featured South Africa, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. The series was played in June 2015 at Margate's Ugu Sports Centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.old.varsitysportssa.com/netball-stars-earn-stripes/|title=Netball stars earn their stripes|publisher=www.old.varsitysportssa.com|date=8 June 2015|access-date=17 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/Sport/Spar-Proteas-aim-to-edge-out-Malawi-at-challenge-20150614|title=Spar Proteas aim to edge out Malawi at challenge|publisher=www.news24.com|date=14 June 2015|access-date=2 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/south-coast-herald/sports-news/2015/06/21/netball-south-africa-makes-major-announcement/|title=Netball South Africa makes major announcement|publisher=www.citizen.co.za|date=21 June 2015|access-date=2 November 2024}} With a team coached by Norma Plummer and captained by Maryka Holtzhausen, South Africa won the series. South Africa finished the series undefeated, winning all four of their matches. In the final they defeated Malawi 40–35.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/plummers-proteas-shine-to-win-diamond-challenge/|title=Plummer's Proteas shine to win Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=2 July 2024|date=21 June 2015}} The series was broadcast live on SuperSport in South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/new-coach-plummer-guides-proteas-to-win-against-africas-no1-side/|title=New coach Plummer guides Proteas to win against Africa’s No1 side|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=1 November 2024|date=18 June 2015}}

Head coaches and captains

class="wikitable collapsible" ! Team ! Head coach ! Captain
{{nb\|South Africa}}	Norma Plummer	Maryka Holtzhausen Karla Mostert
{{nb\|Malawi}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-queens-beat-zambia-to-book-final-berth-with-south-africa-in-diamonds-challenge/\|title=Malawi Queens beat Zambia to book final berth with South Africa in Diamonds Challenge\|publisher=www.nyasatimes.com\|access-date=1 November 2024\|date=18 June 2015}}	Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa	Caroline Mtukule
{{nb\|Uganda}}{{cite web\|url=https://kawowo.com/2015/06/17/uganda-she-cranes-defeat-zambia-to-earn-maiden-win-netball-diamond-challenge/\|title=Uganda She Cranes defeat Zambia to earn maiden win\|publisher=kawowo.com\|access-date=1 November 2024\|date=17 June 2015}}	Fred Mugerwa	Peace Proscovia
{{nb\|Zambia}}		Carol Moono

South Africa squad

{{INF roster header|team=South Africa

| color1 = #FFB81C; | bg1 = #007749; | color2 = #FFB81C; | bg2 = #007749;}}

{{INF roster player|name=Zukelwa Cwaba|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1984|10|15}}|pos=GK, GD|height=1.87|club= }}

{{INF roster player|name=Maryka Holtzhausen|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1987|06|02}}|pos=GA, WA|height=1.81|club=Loughborough Lightning|capt=yes}}

{{INF roster player|name=Lindie Lombard|pos=GS|dob= |height= |club=Gauteng Jaguars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Izette Lubbe|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1992|07|12}}|pos=C, WA|height=1.80|club=Gauteng Jaguars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Phumza Maweni|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1984|09|04}}|pos=GK, GD|height=1.87|club=Loughborough Lightning}}

{{INF roster player |name=Karla Mostert|pos=GD,WD|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1990|03|12}}|height=1.81|club=Free State Crinums}}

{{INF roster player|name=Bongiwe Msomi|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1988|01|19}}|pos=WA, C|height=1.66|club=Kingdom Stars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Precious Mthembu|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1984|07|11}}|pos=C, WD|height=1.77|club=Kingdom Stars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Melissa Myburgh|pos=GS, GA|dob= |height= |club=Gauteng Jaguars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Adele Niemand|dob= |pos=GK|height= |club=Free State Crinums}}

{{INF roster player|name=Elsje du Plessis|dob= |pos= |height= |club= }}

{{INF roster player|name=Lenize Potgieter|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1994|05|02}}|pos=GS, GA|height=1.88|club=Gauteng Jaguars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Shadine van der Merwe|pos=GD, WD, GK|dob={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2015|06|16|1992|11|25}}|height=1.79|club=Gauteng Jaguars}}

{{INF roster player|name=Nokubonga Sibiya|dob= |pos=C|height= |club=Kingdom Stars}}

{{INF roster footer

| head_coach = Norma Plummer

| asst_coach =

| roster_url= https://www.old.varsitysportssa.com/netball-stars-earn-stripes/

| updated=
22 October 2024

| url_team= https://www.old.varsitysportssa.com/netball-stars-earn-stripes/

}}

{{small|Sources:{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/north-glen-news/news-headlines/2015/06/24/the-rise-of-kingdom-stars/|title=The rise of Kingdom Stars|publisher=www.citizen.co.za|date=24 June 2015|access-date=13 September 2024}}}}

Group stage

=Round 1=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 16 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| score = 51–40

| team2 = {{nb|Uganda}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| venue =

}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 16 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 63–38

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

}}

{{small|Sources:{{cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2015/06/17/she-cranes-lose-to-malawi-in-netball-diamond-challenge-opener/|title=She Cranes Lose To Malawi In Netball Diamond Challenge Opener|publisher=kawowo.com|access-date=1 November 2024|date=17 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/taller-proteas-down-zambia-in-diamond-challenge/|title=Taller Proteas down Zambia in Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=1 November 2024|date=17 June 2015}}}}

=Round 2=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 17 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 43–33

| team2 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 17 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Uganda}}

| score = 59–36

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| venue =

}}

=Round 3=

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 18 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Malawi}}

| score = 60–34

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

}}

{{netballbox collapsible

| date = 18 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|South Africa}}

| score = 56–39

| team2 = {{nb|Uganda}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

}}

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2015/06/18/uganda-she-cranes-fall-to-hosts-south-africa-diamond-challenge-netball-2015/|title=Uganda She Cranes Fall to Hosts, South Africa|publisher=kawowo.com|access-date=1 November 2024|date=18 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/proteas-down-the-she-cranes-to-stay-unbeaten-in-challenge/|title=Proteas down the ‘She Cranes’ to stay unbeaten in Challenge|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=1 November 2024|date=19 June 2015}}}}

=Table=

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}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
style="background:#e6efff" \| 1 \| style="text-align:left" \|{{nb\|South Africa}}	3	3	0	0	162	110	52	6
style="background:#e6efff" \| 2 \| style="text-align:left" \|{{nb\|Malawi}}	3	2	1	0	144	117	27	4
style="background:#fff6e6" \| 3 \| style="text-align:left" \|{{nb\|Uganda}}	3	1	2	0	138	143	–5	2
style="background:#fff6e6" \| 4 \| style="text-align:left" \|{{nb\|Zambia}}	3	0	3	0	108	182	–74	0

{{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 = 19 June 2015

| time =

| stats =

| report =

| team1 = {{nb|Uganda}}

| score = 59–34

| team2 = {{nb|Zambia}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

}}

{{small|Sources:{{cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2015/06/19/uganda-she-cranes-finish-3rd-at-diamond-netball-challenge/|title=Uganda She Cranes Finish Third At 2015 Diamond Netball Challenge|publisher=kawowo.com|access-date=9 October 2024|date=19 June 2015}}}}