Seven teams fail to comply with NSA rules ahead of the start of the TNL competition

This year, Gauteng will host the TNL from April 26 to May 31 and June 5 to June 19. The NSA launched the annual event in Johannesburg last week. Despite failing to meet the requirements for participation, two teams from Kwa-Zulu Natal, Kingdown Stars, and Kingdom Queens, as well as teams from Free State, attended the launch.

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Initially omitted from the competition, the KZN teams received notices permitting their participation, causing confusion. The KZN netball provincial structures claim ignorance regarding their initial exclusion.

According to a letter exclusively obtained by SABC Sport, only Aloes, Comets, Crinums, Sanobloem, Jaguars, and Fireballs have been confirmed to participate in the TNL next week.  

Interestingly, there are no teams from KZN on the list. The letters from the NSA indicate that KZN teams were not approved due to their failure to comply with the association’s regulations.

“The letter from the NSA came as a shock,” she continued. “We were told that the players that did not compete in the Spar National Senior Championships are not allowed to compete in the competition, and were not aware of that rule,” She went on to explain, “We then submitted the reasons why they did not participate, and one of the players did not have financial means to go to Rustenburg for the national last year,”

Ngema added, “On Tuesday, NSA sent us a letter to say we can now participate without the four players. I don’t want to be a troublemaker, but I’m confused and only trying to stand up for my players,”  

Ngema expressed uncertainty regarding the impact of the sporadic communication from NSA on her players during the tournament, stating, “I will only know how the players feel when they assemble for camp tomorrow,”  

The NSA President, Cecilia Molokwane, stated “KZN did not comply and it’s not the only; even Free State seven out of the nine teams failed to comply, and we cannot treat them differently. When two elephants fight, the grass that suffers; in this case, it is the players. There are no issues here; KZN failed to comply. We are dealing with the matters. The rules are clear; if districts fail to participate in the national champs, no TNL participation,”

Molokwane expressed bewilderment at the negativity surrounding teams in the TNL who fail to adhere to the rules “It’s just 3 or 4 players on their team who aren’t following the guidelines and therefore don’t qualify.  Let’s uphold the rules and play fair,” Molokwane further clarified, “I contacted the KZN President and provided a thorough explanation. There shouldn’t be any confusion here,”