He was addressing guests at the launch of Netball Premier League at Monte-Casino.
This will be the first semi-professional league in Africa, thanks to SAB-Brutal Fruit sponsorship. No figures were given but the sports ministry will invest R10m.
Netball has been struggling with sponsorships. The only notable back up has been from SPAR.
The sponsorship will run for five years, until 2019.
Mimi Mthethwa, President of Netball SA said: “This will now enable us to push through strategic initiatives in growing the sport, producing role models, having the game played everywhere, and most importantly identifying talent.”
“The thinking we have is to take netball to better heights. It’s an opportunity for girls to participate in a professional league,” continued Mbalula, who recently has been on the firing line following the controversial quota system in sport federations.
The league will start on May 10 with the final on June 8, all matches being played at the University of Pretoria.
The league will be contested in two divisions, consisting of five teams each representing the nine provinces, while Gauteng will have two representatives. The strongest teams will take each other on in Division 1, with the rest of the teams in Division 2.
The winner of Division 2 will then play the last placed side in Division 1 in a promotion-relegation match at the end of the competition.
Division 1 will be made up of the Eastern Aloes (Eastern Cape), Free State Crinums, Golden Fireballs (Gauteng South), Jaguars (Gauteng North) and North West Flames.
Division 2 will be contested between the Diamonds (Northern Cape), Kingdom Stars (Kwa-Zulu Natal), Limpopo Boababs, Sunbirds (Mpumalanga) and Southern Stings (Western Cape).
Netball is considered as one of popular sports’ in the country but has not reached that climax.
With this kind of developments taking shape- it is hoped our girls will soar to greater heights.
