The Mpumalanga Sunbirds fly off to the 2023 Telkom Netball League later this week
The league kicks off its first week in Polokwane and moves to the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria from June 2 to continue the action.
The 2023 Telkom Netball League (TNL) first leg starts on Thursday April 27 at Ngoako Ramahlodi Sport Complex in Polokwane.
Our own Mpumalanga Sunbirds have been competing in this domestic competition since its start in 2014 and have since gone from strength to strength, moving from a 10th log position to a second place finish in division two last year.
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Teams from each province in the country will battle it out on court, hoping to lift the respective trophies in their divisions. This year, two more teams have been added to the mix, the Free State Sonoblomo and the Limpopo Lillies. They will be out on court in division 2, together with the Mpumalanga Sunbirds, Eastern Cape Comets, Kingdom Queens, Northern Cape Diamonds, Limpopo Baobabs and Western Cape Tornados.
The first division will be tightly contested by the two Gauteng outfits, the Golden Fireballs (champions in 2022) and the Jaguars. The North West Flames, Free State Crinums, Western Cape Southern Stings, Eastern Cape Aloes (division 2 champions in 2022) and Kingdom Queens will be throwing their hats into the ring as well.
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The Mpumalanga outfit will start their campaign off with a match against the Comets at 16:00 on Thursday April 27.
The squad of 16 players named to represent the province in this year’s TNL season are led by co-captains Maryke Coetzee and Palesa Mbukwana. The on-court leadership team is rounded off by vice-captain Zanele Mokoena.
Atacia Mbuyane, Zanneke Ras, Regan Millard, Jani Bergh, Sylvia Lebelo, Nomsa Ngulube, Nobuhle Sibisi, Tumelo Nkoe, Seja Kgaabi, Hope Sibiya, Swlihle Ngidi, Conny Phala and Nkateko Rikhotso make up the squad of 16.
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Head coach, Thembisile Mdluli, will hope to build on last year’s performance and lead her troops to a top two finish once more.
The rest of their weekend schedule looks as follows:
• Sunday April 30: Sunbirds vs Queens; 08:00.
• Monday May 1: Sunbirds vs Lillies; 10:00.
