Johannesburg – This year the netball SPAR National Championships will begin at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on 1 December 2024.
Organisers said the SPAR National Championships will commemorate World Aids Day, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and also support hashtag#ENDGBVF.
Up to 1 800 players will descend on Ellis Park Netball for a feast of netball, with the Under-21 championships being played alongside the senior tournament.
Ten districts will compete for the senior A title, which is currently held by Johannesburg.
The SPAR Baby Proteas (National Under 21 team) are also confirmed to be playing in the Senior A Section of the championship as all-important preparation for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup to be played in Gibraltar.
The President of NSA, Cecilia Molokwane said: “The SPAR National Championships is a very important tournament for us as Netball South Africa (NSA), it has allowed us over the years to identify players to play for the national teams (under 21’s and seniors).
“It has become a good hunting ground for scouts and the perfect opportunity for players to also showcase their talents.
“We are truly grateful to SPAR for their unwavering support throughout the years. ‘SPAR is good for Netball’.”
Netball South Africa CEO Modiegi Komane said there were an impressive number of teams entering the tournament in the last couple of years.
“I am delighted that 36 teams have entered the Under-21 tournament and 53 have entered the senior tournament,” said Komane.
Komane said that during the Championships there would be a Deaf Netball Tournament played in celebration of World Disability Day on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.
SPAR and Netball South Africa (NSA) are fully committed to the battle against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and during the championships a strong message to hashtag#ENDGBVF would be sent.
Mpudi Maubane, National SPAR PR, Communications and Sponsorships Manager said, “SPAR was proud to headline sponsor the Championships”.
Maubane added: “This Championships is the largest Interprovincial sport event hosted in South Africa annually and it’s the ideal platform to create awareness amongst the participants and spectators about the fight to hashtag#ENDGBV.
While awareness campaigns serve their purpose in highlighting the issue of GBV, they cannot stand alone.
Collaborations with the likes of NSA, NPA and LifeLine on hashtag#EndGBV is very important for us as it helps to direct and channel support where is mostly needed.”
Tickets for the games will be available online at shop@netball-sa.org.za
Selected matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport.
