Gauteng Jaguars coach, Rozanne Matthyse is confident her side will reach yet another Telkom Netball League final.
The Tshwane side are the record title holders of South Africa’s semi-professional league.
Matthyse’s side fell on the last hurdle in last year’s edition of the competition when they lost to the Free State Crinums who denied them a record-extending seventh title.
The Jaguars will be hoping to continue their dominance in the league as they take on a new-look Crinums who will be hoping to return to the final and successfully defend their title.
However, Division One of the league has seen the rise and growth of teams like the Gauteng Golden Fireballs, the North-West Flames and the Western Cape Southern Stings.
The Cape side are yet to win a title since the competition launched in 2014 even after playing in three finals.
This year’s competition will see 18 teams competing, this includes the national Under-21 side, the Baby Proteas who will use competition as preparation for the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup in in Gibraltar later this year.
Zimbabwe’s national team also forms part of the 2025 edition.
Netball South Africa, in partnership with proud sponsors, @TelkomZA is delighted to announce the exciting return of the Telkom Netball League. Africa’s largest franchise Netball competition! 🏆
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 8, 2025
👉 https://t.co/CBegZLhCdg#TNLisBack #TelkomNL #TelkomStandTall #TNL2025 pic.twitter.com/HB6CnLp9F2
The inaugural competition only consisted of 10 teams, with Gauteng being the only province with two teams.
The tournament has grown over the years, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape are the last two provinces with one team each.
'SHOWCASE NEW TALENT'
Matthyse will be without some of her players who took the silver medal last year. She says this has challenged how she prepares and readies her side for the competition.
“I think it is going to be a different TNL but an exciting one having lost 12 players out of Gauteng into the Under-21s. It didn’t cripple my team, but it gave a lot of players an opportunity (to showcase their talent).
“This is the platform where we want to showcase new talent. It was a stressful situation for me thinking about that 12 to the Under-21s. It challenged me as a coach as well, my core has still stayed the same for the Jaguars, which I am grateful for. But losing a lot of players who played in the final last year made me think about my team and the setup preparation a little bit differently.
“Although it is stressful, it is a good stress. It challenges you with new things. That is what we want as coaches, we don’t want to stagnate,” says Matthyse.
The competition will be held over three power weeks, with the opening week starting on 26 April to 4 May at the Sun City’s Superbowl in the North-West.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆‼️
— Basadi in Action (@BasadiAction) April 8, 2025
2025 #TelkomNL will take place in North West at the Sun City Resort 🏝️
The first power week starts on 26 April - 4 May
🎟️Ticket information will be shared soon by @Netball_SA @TelkomZA #TNL2025 pic.twitter.com/b9fhNZQG70
The competition returns to the province for the first time since the 2021 edition which was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The second leg will be held from 13-17 June, with the last round set for 14-20 July.
HOPING TO GROW
The South African development coach says she is happy that the league will finally take place.
“I am very excited that the league will be starting, it has been long awaited. Getting the teams sorted, getting the trials sorted as well. We have had two weeks of preparations which normally at this time of the road, I would have already settled my team. It is stressful but also exciting because I think we are all in that boat. All the coaches are in that boat, it is not only specific to the Jaguars,” she explains.
Although Matthyse is confident of yet another final, she hopes her team’s performance will grow throughout the competition.
“We always, at the Jags, say we know we are going to be in finals. We just don’t know who we will be playing against. That is the mentality we have going to this TNL.
“A platform where we will see new players, we will see young players and they are ready for this. I am glad that they are getting this opportunity with the guidance of the senior players that will groom them. I think setting a standard of progression, I don’t want them to get into the first leg and think ‘here we are, we are perfect with nowhere to grow.’
“It is about progression for me and making sure that in each match we progress to the next one. That is why I think we have been so successful because we don’t focus on the final until we get there. For us, it is like climbing steps,” she says.
'GREAT TO TAKE NETBALL TO OTHER PROVINCES'
Matthyse says moving the competition around the country will help inspire the next generation of players but also create an experience for the players to understand what it means to be a professional athlete.
“Netball is not just Gauteng. It is great to take it to other provinces. There are girls and players in schools across South Africa who would love to see netball at this level, not just on TV but live. But also, for players that have never travelled before, it is introducing them to a way in which professional netballers do. They travel, they stay in different hotels, and it is a different vibe. It is exciting, Sun City is nice because it is open and we can be outside,” she says.