Breaking: Netball SA moves the national championships to December due to the Olympics

Breaking: Netball SA moves the national championships to December due to the Olympics

Netball South Africa (NSA) has rescheduled the Spar National Championships from August to December due to the Olympic Games.

Originally set to take place in Seshego, Limpopo during the women’s month, the annual provincial event will now be held at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.

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The Spar Proteas will face Malawi in a test series at the same venue in October.  

The Olympic Games, which will take place from 26 July to 11 August in Paris, will capture global attention during that period.

NSA president Cecilia Molokwane told SABC Sport that Ellis Park will host both competitions after the Olympics. “We wanted to take the Proteas match against Malawi to Durban but settled for the City of Johannesburg and they gave us the arena for free,” said a delighted Molokwane.

Commenting on the national championships, Molokwane said: “We cannot compete with the Olympics. We won’t get enough coverage during that period and decided to move the event to the end of the year,” Molokwane elaborated on the logistical challenges saying, “It is expensive to organize an event where close to 2000 players and administrators will feature in. We need all the coverage we can get and the financial assistance. December is the new date and new venue. The Telkom Netball League is currently being played at the Ellis Park Arena and we are happy to stay in Johannesburg for the two upcoming competitions. We decided to settle for October for the Proteas test because the overseas-based players will be available,”

Following their test match against the Queens of Malawi, the Proteas will embark on a tour in January 2025, starting with a series against Jamaica in Kingston.

Then they will compete in the six-nation tournament in England and may also participate in a three-nation tournament in South Africa, facing Malawi and Uganda. “We will announce the captain and vice-captain August at a press conference. The Proteas will play their first match under new coach Jenny Van Dyk in October, and we have additional plans for them next year,” said Molokwane.

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