Proteas Women’s National Team Coach Mandla Mashimbyi©Backpagepix
By : Boitumelo Makhapheetja
South Africa’s women’s cricket team has scripted a new chapter in their history. Led by the astute coaching of Phalaborwa-born Mandla Mashimbyi, the Proteas Women have shattered records and exceeded expectations, reaching the ICC World Cup final for the very first time. But what makes this achievement even more remarkable is the team’s unbeaten streak, with five consecutive wins under their belt.
South Africa defeated Pakistan with 150-runs in Colombo on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 and advanced to the ICC World Cup finals.
One of the unique strategies tha Mashimbyi has implemented in building the Proteas Women, was planned culture camps earlier this year, with the vision and understanding that successful teams work within a healthy team environment, just as much as they do on their skills and game plans.
The results of those camps have already started to show now at the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The team seems unbeatable at the moment. They look a tight knit unit and they have shown plenty of character during the competition.
“We’ve improved on a lot of things in that sense, I’m just really proud of these girls and I’ll cherish every moment that I have to spend with them in my pursuit to getting them better or help them get better as well as players and as people as well,”
” The ambition is probably the same as every team, to carry the trophy at the end of this tournament,” he said.
South Africa will face their final round-robin fixture against defending champions Australia women’s team in Holkar Stadium.