Sonoblomo bringing positive opportunities in Free State

Free State Sonoblomo team manager Matseko Matyesini says having a second team in the province has increased excitement and participation in the sport. Netball South Africa added two new teams in the Telkom Netball League to bring the number of teams to 15.

When the competition started in 2014, only 10 teams were competing with Gauteng being the only team with two teams. The league has grown in numbers over the years and the 2023 season introduced Sonoblomo and the Limpopo Lilies. The two added teams play in the second division of the league.

Sonoblomo debuted in the TNL during the opening power week which took place at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Sports Complex in Polokwane. They are the second team from the province after three time champions, the Free State Crinums which boosts national team players such as Khanyisa Chawane and Refiloe Nketsa.

Matyesini says having another team in the TNL has revived the hopes of players around the province that they have a better chance to compete at the high level.

“It has boosted the morale of netball in this province because when we had one team and we had trials, there would be about 200 players while we are only looking for 16. It was demoralising for other players. But now that we have two teams, players are motivated. You should see at the clubs in the districts, people are starting to take netball seriously. They are starting to play netball with the hope of getting into the second team,” says Matyesini.

She explains the excitement after receiving the news that the province would be getting a second team in the TNL.

“We received information from Netball South Africa that the Free State will have a second team, so they needed a name and a logo. We looked for players who know how to play. We were looking for agility, speed on the court, and players who were able to finish in the shooting circle. We were looking for those qualities. The main focus for Sonoblomo was to get players from the other districts in the province because Crinums have players from Mangaung,” she adds.

She says having Crinums to look up to, will benefit the team in becoming in different ways as they try to build their name in the TNL.

“What we need to learn from Crinums is how they play, the teamwork and trust on the court in that team are some of the things that we need to learn. We are actually learning a lot from coach Martha (Mosoahle-Samm), she just came with a silver medal from overseas. Our coaches are learning a lot from the Crinums,” she says.

Matyesini is confident that the team has talented players who will make sure the team fights in Division Two.

“Sizeka Adoons can play any position on the court but the coaches have played her in defensive positions. She plays wing defence and she is very good. Lerato Chabwe has experienced, she once played for Crinums. These are the players that people must look out for,” she says.

As debutants in the league, the Sonoblomo still need to find their feet in order to challenge teams such as the Western Cape Tornados or the Limpopo Baobabs who have been campaigning in Division Two for a few seasons. After the first round of the TNL, the Sonoblomo are seventh on the Division Two standings and have not recorded a single win. She understands that they still have work to put in but is confident they can cause an upset and manage to finish in the top four.

“It was very difficult. We were learning and we got most of the players on the way to Polokwane, which is why it was difficult to gel on the court. But the team is now gelling, they know one another, and they are now more ready and motivated. We are actually not looking at a medal because it’s our first time. We are actually still looking to gain experience and get exposure for the players in the game, that is what we are hoping to get in the TNL. According to what I have seen in our training sessions, I think we will get the fourth position or even three.

That is where the performance is now, the performance has gone up. It is very high now. I see the team reaching position four or upwards, not five or sixth position. We don’t want to see ourselves there. I don’t think we should put ourselves under pressure because we are still new. We are just taking it step by step. Next year there might be some pressure but this year there isn’t any. We don’t even have any pressure from the province, they know that we are still taking baby steps,” she says.

Sonoblomo squad

Bianca Pienaar (captain)
Lerato Chabwe (vice captain)
Sizeka Adoons
Amy Jacobs
Jerminah Nteso
Oarabetswe Thato Mokhahle
Matthews Linten
Bohlokwa Leballo
Melanri Meyer
Hendra Marx
Mcayla Mienie
Judy Seroka
Elri Groenewald
Thato Nkali
Ruandi van Dyk