Gauteng Jaguars are record six time TNL champions

The Gauteng Jaguars have been crowned the Telkom Netball League champions. The Tshwane side, who have played in every final of the competition since its inception in 2014 won a record extending sixth title.

They defeated three times champions, Free State Crinums 59-51 in a closely contested final of the competition held at the Heartfelt Arena, in the country’s capital.

The final saw four Vitality Netball World Cup bound players on the court, the Crinums had three Khanyisa Chawane, Lefebre Rademan and Refiloe Nketsa while the Jaguars had Izette Griesel.

Jaguars started on a slow footing in the first quarter but they redeemed themselves after that and led from the first quarter until the final whistle. The title is coach Rozzane Matthyse’s first one. She says although they were trailing in the first quarter, they were still confident that they would win the match.

“I am very proud of the girls. From the beginning people didn’t expect us to be in the final but I know what I have in my girls. It was a hard fight in the beginning but we knew what our result was going to be and what we were looking for. I said they should play ball for ball and have to keep possession of the ball. We never panicked, we worked for this. We have played in 10 finals, we know how to play in the final. I think we didn’t focus a lot on the other team, we had a process. We knew what we wanted to achieve and we made sure we stuck to that and made sure that we executed our game plan to the tee,” says Matthyse.

Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm says she’s proud of the effort her players put in the match even though they were not able to get the gold medal they were hoping for.

“We wanted gold but unfortunately it didn’t happen. But I am still proud of the girls, if you look at the campaign, how we got to her with just one loss throughout the entire tournament. The top four was hard. We managed to finish second on the podium and played in the final. It is one step ahead from last year. We got a bronze medal last year and now it’s a silver. Not the game we wanted to play, not the game plan we wanted to follow but it happens in the final. If you choke one quarter, you are out. But I am still proud, the silver medal is something we take back (home) with,” says Mosoahle-Samm.

The Fireballs who failed to get into the final of the competition, are the first team to have not been able to have back to back title in the history of the competition. They took home the bronze medal. Coach, Dr. Elsje Jordaan says although they would have loved to defend their title, she is glad the team finished on the podium.

“There were a few tears and we said that’s sport and that is how it goes but we don’t want to go home empty handed. The way they kicked in you could see want it. I am very pleased about that. This squad has been coming along nicely, it’s only our second year together and the growth I have seen in some of these players is incredible. The TNL is growing and it is a highly contested competition. I am very proud, we have four 20-year-olds in this team. It is still a very young team, maybe not in netball but in years and they are learning, they are growing. Because of that, I am very proud. I love the way we are coming together and growing as a group,” says Jordaan.

Meanwhile the Limpopo Baobabs were crowned the champions of Division Two of the competition. They overcame a determined Western Cape Tornados in the final of the second tier stream while last year silver medallists, the Mpumalanga Sunbirds took home the bronze medal.

The Baobabs also gained promotion to Division One of the competition. The Emily Mathosa led side had a only lost one match in the tournament and cruised all the way to the promotion match where they defeated the KwaZulu Natal Kingdom Stars 55-37 to secure a move to the elite section. Mathosa says she’s excited for the challenge ahead against the top teams.

“It’s been great but it has been a bit bumpy here and there but we had to put our own differences aside and make sure that we come with a great mindset to make sure we win the tournament. I think the players we have changed the whole thing (whipping girls), the hunger from the players and the leadership as well. We always had the same plan of coming here to showcase good netball and win but things were not going our way but I am glad that this year it finally paid off. I think my girls will be ready to compete in the A section. It is going to be difficult but I believe we can take on the teams and match the standard because we have capable girls that can do it between the four lines,” says Mathosa.

Individual Awards

Best Shooter - Nichole Taljaard

Best Centre Court Player - Refiloe Nkentsa

Best Defender - Jamie van Wyk

Player of the Tournament - Khanyisa Chawane

Division Two

Best Shooter - Marichelle Visagie

Best Mid-court - Amber Coraizin

Best Defender - Cornelia Mupenda

Player of the Tournament - Muhluri Hlatshwayo