Netball South Africa’s Telkom Netball League made its return on the 26th April, with 13 teams competing.
The season will be played across two provinces over eight weeks, starting in the Olive Convention Centre in Durban for the opening power week of the tournament.
After this, the remaining games will be played in Gauteng, from the 20th May until the 19th June.
The league is split into two divisions, and in Division A it will be Gauteng Jaguars defending the title, whilst in Division B it will be The Eastern Cape Ales who will be hoping to defend their title and secure promotion to the top division after narrowly missing out to North West Flames in the play-off last season.
It is an exciting time for netball in South Africa, as they get ready to host the Netball World Cup 2023 in Cape Town, and Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane, knows the leagues restart is a great opportunity for them to prepare for what is to come, she said: “This is a very big year for us as a federation and for netball.
“We are getting ourselves ready to host the World Cup in 2023 and this is a perfect opportunity for the national coaches to also scout some players for next year.
Unlike last year, in 2022 the SPAR Proteas players will be in action, and this will also give the coaching staff an opportunity to assess players that will be going to Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”
Due to COVID restrictions and international duties the SPAR Proteas players were unable to participate last year.
However, this year the SPAR Proteas are able to play and here are just some of the Proteas you should look out for:
Eastern Cape Aloes
Jeanie Steyn – goal keeper/goal defence
Free State Crinums
Sikholiwe Mdletshe – centre/wing attack
Khanyisa Chawane – centre/wing defence
Refiloe Nkesta – centre/wing defence
Gauteng Golden Fireballs
Jessica du Plessis – goal attack/goal shoot
Bongi Msomi (captain and WN Ambassador) – centre/wing attack
Monique Reyneke – goal defence/goal keeper/wing defence
North West Flames
Kgomosto Itlhabanyeng – centre/wing attack/wing defence
Elmeré van der Berg – goal attack/goal shoot
Gauteng Jaguars
Nonsikelelo Mazibuko – goal attack/goal shoot
Chantelle Swart – goal attack/goal shoot
Kamogelo Maseko – goal attack/goal shoot
Tshina Mdau – wing attack/wing defence/centre
Jamie van Wyk – goal defence
Simoné le Roux – wing defence/goal defence/goal keeper
Izette Griesel – wing attack/centre
KZN Kingdom Stars
Renske Stoltz – goal attack/goal shoot
Nozipgo Ntshangase – goal defence/goal keeper
Western Cape Southern Stings
Sian Moore – goal shoot/goal attack
Nicola Smith – goal keeper/goal defence
Danelle Lochner – goal shoot/goal attack
Good luck to all those involved!
Those in South Africa will be able to watch the international stars and their teams in action for the first time since 2019, as lockdown restrictions have now been lifted letting fans into the arenas.
If you can’t male it to the matches, they are also being played live in SuperSport.
For more information, visit Netball South Africa’s website here.
