They have just put women in sports on a pedestal and inspired a lot of young girls and people in South Africa.

The Proteas Women were the first senior Proteas team to reach a World Cup final, so the women are definite history-makers. Few people would have guessed that the Proteas women would be the first to contest a World Cup final. 

The national team batted their hearts out in the final game against Australia, and even though they did not defeat them, they are still proud of themselves. Captain Suné Luus said: "It is a bittersweet feeling and I am feeling very proud of each and every teammate. We put up a very good fight against Australia, I am extremely proud."

The fact that this Proteas team astonished the cricketing world on their journey and won over a frequently cynical South African public makes it more significant. On Sunday, the fans erupted throughout, clapping for each run that came off a South African bat.

"The country was really behind us, and it was something we never really thought would happen. It was such an honour to have that opportunity to inspire a nation and to have them come out and watch us play was such a blessing," added Luus.

The chairperson of the Netball World Cup 2023 board, Patience Shikwambana, praised the Protea women’s squad for being the first South African cricket team to reach the final of an ICC World Cup. She called it "a proud day for the country".

"Against all odds, our women’s cricketers rose to the occasion and were perfect ambassadors for South Africa on and off the field. They showed what is possible and they had the backing and support of their home supporters. They unified a nation, and we want to congratulate them wholeheartedly," Shikwambana said.

South Africa is one of the 16 qualifiers for the 2023 Netball World Cup, which is staged in Cape Town in July. "We are confident that the event will showcase the very best of what’s possible when it comes to women in sport and we will build on the platform laid by our inspiring women’s cricketers," she said.

Proteas netball player Karla Pretorius said: "They have inspired us through their performances on and off the field. They showed us what teamwork, resilience, and confidence are. And with our World Cup coming up, we want to follow in their footsteps. I am extremely proud of them and the way they represented South Africa."

Lefèbre Rademan, another Proteas netball player, said excitedly: "It’s amazing how well our Proteas Women Cricket team performed. It’s so encouraging and motivating for women’s sports in South Africa. It is also a big motivation for us as the Proteas netball team to do the same in the upcoming Netball World Cup."

Khanyisa Chawane, centre of the national netball team, added: "They have really inspired us in knowing that anything is possible and you need to believe in yourself. I think they did it for themselves, without knowing they had done it for South Africa and for women in sports."

"They did not just make South Africa proud but also make women in sports proud. I am proud of how they performed as well. They really gave their best in that final, even though it may not have been the result they wanted. However, you saw the passion, willingness, and drive that they possessed and that they wanted to do this."

She believes that you can achieve anything that you want, and she will take the drive and passion she saw in the Proteas Women’s Cricket team into their upcoming Netball World Cup.

OFM Sport/Zenande Mpame