The Free State Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm describes the 2026 Telkom Netball League season as the best the team has ever had.
The Crinums completed the season with a 100 per cent record, not tasting defeat even once. The 2025 champions, the Gauteng Golden Fireballs, are the only other team to have achieved this feat.
The Bloemfontein-based side clinched their fifth title after defeating the Fireballs 46-32 in the final in the competition becoming the second most successful team in the league. They are only one title behind the Gauteng Jaguars who have six. Crinums have featured in eight finals of the competition since it launched in 2014.
The Western Cape Southern Stings took home the bronze medal after beating the Jaguars in the third place match playoff.
Mosoahle-Samm said she is proud of what her team was able to accomplish.
"This is one of the most brilliant performances that the Crinums have put up since the beginning of TNL. I’m so proud of these girls. Unshaken, going out there and being untouchable, knowing exactly what was needed and playing beautiful netball even during the final. The team definitely understood the mandate," said Mosoahle-Samm.
The Botswana coach says the team decided to do things slightly differently this season. She says after the team lost last season’s final, they had to rethink how they play.
"After last year’s loss we went back and thought how can we dominate the competition. Our strategy was clear, we wanted to dominate from the beginning, stick to the game plan and make sure what we do, and we do it well.
"We were not focusing on the end result, we were focusing on what we could do in 15 minutes. I think for the first time focusing on us, instead of other teams. Set the records ourselves, setting a standard for every quarter and having to break the entire game into four quarters helped us a lot," she explained.
Karla Pretorius’ return to the game following her year-long netball hiatus also played a key role in helping the team reach the top. The team has won the championship every year that the former Player of the Tournament at the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup has been part of the team.
Mosoahle-Samm also introduced two young players in the team, Siyamthanda Sambo and Natasha Watson who were debutants in the premier semi-professional competition.
"It’s amazing what an impact Karla has on the team. The Crinums look up to her. I think they are settling in well, they know what it takes to wear the Crinums badge. We are a team that embraces youth," she said.
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Stars will continue to campaign in the elite division next season. The Nompumelelo Mthembu-led team had to fend off Division Two winners, Tornados, in the promotion/ relegation match. Stars had a tough season in the league and they only managed to win only
"It was a rollercoaster season. There were moments where we we good and then down but I think we played well as a team. We managed to see where we didn’t do right and how we would fix the errors we made.
"Despite the challenges we faced, we were able to come out as a team that will be able to retain their status on Division One. That was our goal when we started playing in Division One, we didn’t want to lose the status.
We didn’t have consistency. We started on a high note in the first leg but when we came back in the second leg we were not as sharp as we were in the first leg. So many things went wrong in the second leg but it’s part of the game. We have learnt our lessons, we know what to fix next," said Mthembu.
The Tornados narrowly beat the KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Queens to take the Division Two title. Winning the title for the first time since the Tornados joined the league in 2020. The Free State Sonoblomo won the bronze medal, their first podium finish since joining the league in 2023.
Division One Individual Awards:
Best Shooter- Bianca Lubbe (Crinums)
Best Midcourt player- Refiloe Nketsa (Crinums)
Best Defender- Karla Pretorius (Crinums)
Player of the tournament- Nonsikelelo Mazibuko (Fireballs)
Division Two Individual Awards:
Best Shooter- Aphiwe Thusini (Queens)
Best Mid-court player- Lara Ehlers (Tornados)
Best Defender- Asemahle Dyidi (Tornados)
Best Player of the tournament- Rochelle Maree (Baobabs)