Limpopo netball league to take off

THE Limpopo provincial netball league will be launched at Lengana Secondary School in Jane Furse in the Sekhukhune district on February 21.

Unlike in previous years, the league will be played in all districts to ensure the development of the game in all underprivileged districts.

The president of Limpopo Netball Association, Cecilia Molekwane, says the decision to launch the league in Sekhukhune district is influenced by the desire to create awareness of the sport in the district, as well as to ensure that every part of the province feels part of the game.

“We will have two events on one day in Sekhukhune. We will launch the league and have the first fixtures played there. From Sekhukhune, we will host our games in Mopani, then the Vhembe and Waterberg districts, before coming back to the Capricorn district. Every district will provide their top three women’s clubs and one men’s club and the number of players per team have been increased from 12 to 15.

“This is in line with the Brutal Fruit National Netball League standard,” explains Molekwane.

Molekwane says hosting netball tournaments and league matches in the Capricorn district only, did not help with the development of the game in the province.

She says this year, they will go out in full force to scout and nurture raw talent, which will strengthen the provincial team.

“This year, we need to take two teams to the national competition, and to have two strong competitive teams, we need to cast our net very wide to get the best players possible,” she says.