Johannesburg – Netball South Africa, in partnership with sponsors Telkom, has announced the return of the “Telkom Netball League”.
Africa’s largest franchise Netball competition officially gets underway on Saturday, 26 April 2025, with the Sun City Superbowl in the North West Province confirmed as the official hosts of this year’s edition.
SPAR, Netball South Africa’s longest-standing sponsor, has been an associate sponsor of the league since its inception 11 years ago.
As a result of its ever-growing magnitude, the Telkom Netball League remains Africa’s premier franchise netball tournament and continues to be a platform for showcasing the best Netball talent.
Supported by a strong partnership between Netball South Africa and sponsors Telkom, this year’s edition promises to be bigger and better, along with two additional teams, the SPAR Baby Proteas (South Africa’s U-21) as well as the invitational side, Zimbabwe.
The inclusion of the SPAR Baby Proteas reflects Netball South Africa and Telkom’s joint and unwavering commitment to developing the sport and providing young talent with a platform to showcase their ability.
This year’s edition will also be important for the SPAR Baby Proteas, as the team gears up for the Netball World Youth Cup campaign in Gibraltar later this year.
As in previous editions, the Telkom Netball League will be held over three “Power Weeks”, with the backing of the Bojanala Municipality:
- The first edition officially gets underway between 26 April and 4 May 2025 at the Sun City Superbowl, where fans can expect high-octane netball action.
- The Second Power Week resumes between 13 and 17 June 2025, with the last edition scheduled for 14-20 July to determine who will be crowned champions.
Four-time champions, Free State Crinums will be looking at defending their Division A title, while KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Stars are set to prove themselves once again after missing out on the promotion to Division A following their loss to Limpopo Baobabs.
Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated season, Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane expressed excitement about the growth of the league.
“This season, the Telkom Netball League provides an even bigger platform for both seasoned stars and emerging talent to showcase their skills,” said Molokwane.
“As Netball SA, we are proud to be associated with a league that remains committed to developing the next generation of netball champions, ensuring that every player has the opportunity to shine on the national stage.
“This season, we are thrilled to introduce a ground-breaking addition to the TNL league – the SPAR Baby Proteas will compete as the 17th team in preparation for the upcoming Netball Youth World Cup.”
Molokwane added: “This will make this season’s TNL even bigger, as it will now be themed around the ‘Road to Gibraltar’ – a Netball SA campaign that aims to celebrate the journey of the SPAR Baby Proteas towards the Netball Youth World Cup 2025.
“The participation of the Baby Proteas in this year’s league marks a significant milestone in their development, providing them with invaluable experience and a solid foundation for success on the world stage.”
The NSA President’s sentiments were echoed by Telkom’s Brand and Communications Executive, Hellen Dinawane, who said the Telkom Netball League underscores the telecoms company’s invested efforts into making a difference in South African communities through the strong impact of the sport.
“The Telkom Netball League signifies a strong and mutually beneficial partnership that Telkom continues to enjoy with Netball South Africa,” said Dinawane.
“Through this partnership, Telkom continues to effectively demonstrate its commitment to serving and making a positive impact to the lives of young and aspiring Netball players.
“We look forward to yet another exciting, but more importantly, impactful Telkom Netball League season.”
With less than a month to go before the much-anticipated showdown in the North West, fans can look forward to electrifying matches and fan-engaging activities.
Netball South Africa said it will soon confirm fixtures, ticketing details as well as broadcast schedules in due course.
