Magda du Plessis believes that the 2025 Telkom Netball League will be the year that the KwaZulu Natal Kingdom Queens will rise to the top.
Queens are one of the newer teams in the competition. They were introduced into the league in the 2020 season alongside the Western Cape Tornados.
In their fifth season of the TNL, Du Plessis believes her side is competitive enough to knock out the top teams in Division Two to win their first title.
“Always first! There is no option about that, we want the podium. The division is highly competitive in the league. You can never prepare enough for the fierce competition of the team. We want to do better than last year,” said Du Plessis.
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.
The opening week is set for 26 April to 4 May at the Sun City’s Superbowl in the North-West.
𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝟏 - 𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙂𝙤! 🔥
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 21, 2025
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The second leg will be held from 13-17 June, with the last round set for 14-20 July.
KZN DERBY
The coach is satisfied with the preparations going into the 2025 season, she said they have worked on the misfortunes they experienced last year.
“We had two successful camps, I am very satisfied with the results of the training sessions. We have evaluated our games from last year and addressed the shortcomings. We had a shooter challenge in KZN, we focused a lot on our shooters and accuracy in the Queens. I feel that my midcourt defence has to improve, which we have worked on,” she said.
The Queens will start their 2025 campaign with the KwaZulu Natal Derby.
They face last year’s Division Two champions, the KwaZulu Natal Kingdom Stars in their first match in the first Power Week.
Du Plessis says they are working hard to make sure that the Queens are more than just a feeder team for the Stars.
“We have always had that aim. Yes, we are from the same province but when we take to court we are competition. We have always worked towards that and the players’ mindset is right however our biggest challenge is when we come back after the first leg. After the first leg the other teams get to train together at varsities, the distances between our players are vast, expensive, and difficult.
"We have had successful camps but we need more camps before we go back to the second leg. What I wanted to do last year, but it didn’t work out, we will have to pay out of our pockets and get the team together, even if there is not enough money to get the team together. I believe a camp is very expensive, I have been doing distance training but it is not as effective” she explained.
👑 Royal roots, rising talent! 💪🏾
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 23, 2025
🏟️ Power Week 1: 26 April – 4 May 2025, Sun City
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A NEW TEAM
The TNL has seen some big shuffles for the season. The Queens have not been spared.
The team has several changes in this year’s squad. They have also acquired the services of Spar Proteas midcourt marvel, Tshina Mdau.
Du Plessis is excited to see what her new team will produce this season.
“Quite a bit. The Queens always have new incoming players, new young ones. They see the Queens as a development (team) and feeding to the Stars. I have some experience left from last year and exciting new talent. We have experienced players in the shooting circle, in our defence circle there are new incoming players and in the midcourt, there are new incoming players as well.
"It is basically a new team again because one or two Stars players are now on our team. I think it is a bit difficult for KZN because of the many districts we have. It would be easy if we had our 12 players coming from the same area where they train all the time and in the same league but with us, it is completely different,” she added.
Du Plessis is however grateful that she can rely on the KwaZulu Natal Super League, which is the province’s development ground.
The league aims to develop players, coaches, and umpires from local to international levels.
She says the competition comes in handy when the TNL gets under way.
“The Super League helps with giving them exercise, practice, and game time. They get quite a lot of training from it but you do need the team together in order to train better. We need to move more towards distance coaching. I have been working with the coaches and players, trying to get onto the same page, and making the coaches realise what we want out of the players. That is going to take some time because that is a new form of coaching, we all are going to get used to it. We will grow more when we perfect that type of coaching,” said Du Plessis in conclusion.
🎟️ 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟏 tickets Now Available! 🔥
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 21, 2025
Get ready for 9 days of non-stop netball action at Sun City’s Superbowl & Sun Park! 💥 26 April – 4 May!
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