A sizzling week of action is expected as the largest-ever SPAR National Netball Championships, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, kick off at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on Monday, 2 December, 2024.
A massive total of 2400 participants from 52 districts across the country are set to take part with 10 teams contesting the senior A division where the Johannesburg team are two-time defending champions.
Playing alongside the seniors will be the country’s best under-21 players, with the Tshwane team looking to go back-to-back after taking the title in Rustenburg last year.
The SPAR Baby Proteas (the national under-21 team) will also play in the senior A section of the championships as preparation for the Netball World Youth Cup to be contested in Gibraltar next year.
Captain of the Johannesburg side Didintle Keebine said her team were relishing the prospect of competing on home turf.
“We are definitely confident, but we are also very humble. Aiming to win it for the third time might be tough but we’re seeing it as motivation rather than pressure so we’re looking forward to it and the energy levels are very good.”
Johannesburg Captain, Didintle Keebine
Keebine said that there are several new players in the side, including Keebine, who previously captained the Dr Kenneth Kaunda side.
The Tshwane under-21s are also full of confidence as they head into the tournament.
“It’s in our culture to win in Tshwane. We are ready for the tournament, we’ve prepared well for it, and being in December after all the other competitions finished, it just gave us a lot of time as coaches to prepare.”
Tshwane Under-21 Coach, Rozanne Matthyse
The SPAR National Netball Championships are usually played in August to coincide with Women’s Month but were postponed due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. That move brings a new challenge into play with temperatures of over 30 degrees expected in Johannesburg this week.
Both coaches said their sides have been training outside in the afternoons to ensure they’re well-prepared for the heat.
Speaking ahead of the largest tournament the sport has witnessed, the president of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, thanked the districts for their hard work in growing the game and said: “124 teams – can you believe it? From 99 last year – what growth… something that has never happened before, so we are very happy as Netball South Africa.
“We’re very excited because more than anything it shows the growth of netball for me. It shows how people have started to embrace netball, to know and understand that netball is a career, that it’s something that your child can do and be in a safe space of playing and doing something that they love.”
Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane
The opening ceremony of the SPAR National Netball Championships takes place at Ellis Park Netball on Monday (16h00) and will include a special candle ceremony to commemorate World Aids Day, 16 Days of Activism, #ENDGBVF and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
As part of the celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, four top deaf netball teams, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Northern Cape, will participate in their tournament as part of the SPAR National Netball Championships for the first time.
Tickets for the games will be available online at [email protected] as well as at the venue for R20. Safe and secure parking would be available at Ellis Park Swimming Pool for R10 per car.
Selected matches will be broadcast Live on SuperSport, broadcast details to follow.
Original Copy: Netball South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: A massive contingent of 2400 participants from 52 districts across South Africa on tenterhooks as the largest-ever Spar National Netball Champs hosted by the City of Johannesburg at Ellis Park on Monday. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane: “We’re very excited because, more than anything, it shows the growth of netball for me. It shows how people understand that netball is a career.”
Photo 3 Caption: Defending champions Johannesburg Captain Didintle Keebine says her team is relishing the prospect of competing on home turf, while U21 defending champions Tshwane head coach Rozanne Matthyse says her team is well prepared for action.
