Free State Crinums’ midcourt star Refiloe Nketsa says although they don’t want to get ahead of themselves, they are looking for another podium finish.
The four-time champions lost the final of the Telkom Netball League(TNL) title to the champions the Gauteng Golden Fireballs in a tightly contested match.
The 2026 edition will run from 24 April to 15 June and will take place in two provinces.
The opening week will see the Durban University of Technology host Power Week One from 24 April to 2 May while Power Week Two will be held at Ellis Park Arena from 22 to 31 May.
INTERNATIONAL MIX
The tournament will see 16 provincial teams competing in the two divisions and it will also include two international invitational sides, including Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The competition, launched in 2014, has only been won by three teams.
Tshwane’s Gauteng Jaguars are the record title holders with six titles while the Crinums have been champions four times and the Fireballs have taken the gold medal twice.
Last season’s top centre court player says they are looking to bag the competition for the fifth time come the end of the season.
“The preparations are really going well. I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but our work will speak for us. We have KPIs set in place, we have goals that we have set in place and the goal would be to lift the trophy at the end. We are just going to see how we bring everything together in the first leg. We will just need to tweak whatever needs to be tweaked, but we pretty much have a clear pathway in how to get to the finals and win that game,” says Nketsa.
PRETORIUS RETURNS
The Crinums have roped back Karla Pretorius in the team. She last played for the Martha Mosoahle-Samm-led side in 2024 when they lifted the trophy for the fourth time, however she was part of the management team last year.
Nketsa says as senior players they are happy to guide the youngsters as the team chases another title.
“One thing about us as senior players, we don’t breed confusion but we give clarity to the players, especially the newer ones. It’s excitement, it’s nerves and everything, ‘I am playing at such a big stage.’ We understand that it is a big opportunity but outside of that, you are a player and you are obliged to follow the game plans and the plans we have set as Free State Crinums. Giving them the clarity they need as to this is how we are going to get to that goal of winning that trophy at the end of the tournament. We have given them the platform to bring themselves and the experiences from their schools because it is not a one way thing. We’ve made them feel comfortable that you are allowed to give instructions to a senior player,” she explains.
CONTRACT EXTENSION
Telkom has renewed their commitment to the sport and will be sponsoring both the TNL and the Telkom Netball Championships for a further two years.
The telecoms giant joined the competition in 2019 after the South African Brewers through Brutal Fruit, didn’t extend the sponsorship after the 2018 season.
Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu, says the continual sponsorship of netball is more than just about funding a women’s sport.
“I think when we embarked on the journey back in 2019, we recognise the gap that still exists in the funding of women's sports, particularly, but it goes beyond funding. Participation of fans, but fans don't participate when things are not visible and we believe that by ensuring or continuing to sponsor the league, we're creating that visibility.
“One, the visibility of the players, and we've seen some of them rise, not just from the league, but also the Telkom Netball Championships, into the league and beyond that, to bring the Protea representatives, representing the country on international stages. We do believe that the gap still exists. One may have closed it over the years and we've created the visibility that we believe is relevant and needed. We do still believe that there's a long way still to go,” says Mthembu.
INCREASED PRIZES
The contract extension will come with increased prize monies for the players and the eventual league winners.
Although Netball South Africa president, Mami Diale wouldn’t go into the actual figures, she explains that the players and coaches will be remunerated according to their level of experience and performance
“We are also looking at players, because previously we were paying the players that are playing the B section the same as the players in A section. So we thought that let's categorise everybody in terms of the performance and in terms of their caps. There'll be different payments for players as well as the coaches. Because in reality, coaches' levels are not the same and the players' levels are not the same. The sections where they are playing are not the same either. But we are looking also to make sure that the winning prize amount is also increased, everybody will be earning what they deserve,” explains Diale.