Gauteng Jaguars target their seventh Telkom Netball League title

With their sights set on securing a seventh TNL championship, the Jaguars are set to take to court at the Ellis Park Arena.

Their opening match pits them against the Baobabs from Limpopo scheduled today at 2 pm.

The highly anticipated competition, featuring six top-tier teams, commenced today and will run until 5 May, culminating in the grand finale after a two-week break.

Alongside the Jaguars, the A division boasts contenders such as the Gauteng  Golden Fireballs, Free State Crinums, North West Flames, Limpopo Baobabs, Western  Cape Southern Strings, and Kwa-Zulu Natal Kingdom Stars.

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The Jaguars' illustrious track record includes appearances in every final since the league’s inception in 2022, claiming six gold and four silver medals.

The head coach of the Jaguars Rozanne Matthyse revealed to SABC Sport, “We are fully prepared to defend our title in court,” She expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations for the country’s premier netball competition, saying “The preparations went well. We are entering this tournament with the expectations of winning the title,” Matthyse, who previously clinched the title as a wing defense with the Jaguars in 2002, and then as an assistant coach before stepping up as head coach last year, declared, “The objective is to win our seventh league title,”

Last year, Matthyse undertook an apprenticeship under the mentorship of Norma Plummer, former head coach of the Proteas on a two-week tour to England.

The Proteas participated in a three-week test series against the English Roses.

Matthyse described this experience as the pinnacle of her life and committed to applying the insights she gained from the Australia World Cup-winning coach in the TNL.

“Last year, I was fortunate to serve an apprenticeship with Plummer in England,” Matthyse recalled. “I will implement what I learned from Plummer during the tour as it is easily the highlight of my coaching career. I will implement a few strategies that I learned and hopefully, it would help us defend our title,” she said jokingly with a Level 3 coaching qualification.

Last year, Matthyse took over from Jenny Van Dyk as the head coach of the Jaguars but cautioned fans not to anticipate the same playing style as her predecessor.

While she respects all the teams in the competition, she is particularly excited about the upcoming Gauteng derby against former champions, the Golden Fireballs, on 4 May, which she views as a game of the tournament.

She added: “The Gauteng derby is fiercely contested and sets the tone for who could go on and win the tournament. Each team brings their A-game, making it a fantastic advertisement for the sport.”