U-21 champions Tshwane captain, Marichelle Visagie, coach, Yolandi Ferreira, Netball SA President, Cecilia Molokwane, senior JHB coach, Elsje Jordaan and captain, Monique Reyneke Meyer. Pic:Reg Caldecott

More than a hundred teams will take part in the 2023 SPAR National Netball Championships which start at Hoërskool Rustenburg on Monday 2nd October.

This is the biggest netball tournament ever in South Africa and Netball South Africa (NSA) President Cecilia Molokwane says this is proof that netball is growing every year.”

Fifty-two under-21 teams and fifty-nine senior teams will be fighting it out for top honours.

“The SPAR championships are traditionally held in Women’s Month in August, but this year we were hosting the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in August,” said Molokwane.

“Instead, we are holding the Championships in October, which is Breast Cancer Month. Breast cancer strikes many women, so it is fitting that we should hold our tournament now.”

Johannesburg are the defending champions, and coach Elsje Jordaan said she was very excited about the prospect of defending the title.

“A few of our SPAR Proteas players, including our captain Bongi Msomi, are missing the championships because they are on international duty. But their absence means other players have the opportunity to show us what they can do,” said Jordaan.

Temperatures in Rustenburg are expected to be high this week and Jordaan said managing players to deal with the hot condition could be a challenge.  

“We have brought a full squad so we can manage the players and ensure that the top players still have legs at the end of the week, when we come to the play-offs. But those sort of challenges are what makes coaching so interesting and exciting,” said Jordaan.

She said the annual SPAR Championships were very important to young players aspiring to play for the national team.

“The SPAR Championships are their first opportunity to showcase their talents and attract the eye of selectors. The SPAR Championships are also a pathway to the Telkom Netball League (TNL). which will give them a taste of semi-professional netball. Only players who have taken part in the national championships are eligible to play in the TNL.”

Molokwane said the Under-21 championships were of particular importance because South Africa would be playing in the African qualifiers for a chance to play in the World Youth Championships in 2025.

“Some of the players will be too old to play in Gibraltar, but they can make sure that we qualify to play there,” said Molokwane.

Tickets for the games will be available at the venue – R20 for adults and R10 for children.

Selected matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Variety 4/Channel 209 (2-7 October).