BY MBALI TEBELE
With only 105 days left for the long-awaited Netball World Cup, The Telkom Netball League 2023 edition is set to begin this month on the 27th of April at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane for the opening week before heading to Pretoria in May.
Netball South Africa (NSA) together with its partner Telkom held an official media launch event in Sandton, on Wednesday, 12 April 2023 to announce the start of the 2023 TNL season.
Telecommunications giant Telkom, who is the headline sponsor of the domestic league are in the fifth year of the partnership with the netball federation since coming on board in 2019.
As it has become the new norm, the 2023 TNL will be played across two provinces, with the opening week taking place from the 27 April to the 01 May at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane.
During the launch, The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, Minister Zizi Kodwa shared words of excitement and support for the women who give their all for Netball in South Africa.
"Thank you very much for the opportunity to be speaking here at the NTL, we as the department support women in sports and this shows with the development of women's sports that we indeed do support and develop their sports. I look forward to watching their games and this is a historic moment as South Africa is the very first country in the African Continent to host the Netball World Cup," Minister Zizi said.
"I would like to thank Telkom for this and we hope more commercial retailers to be part of such initiatives. Want to see more young ladies participating in sports, and Friday netball will be launching in Tembisa and we would like to have you there," he added.
Telkom Representative, Gugu Mthembu also shared that it has been a rewarding 5 years being in partnership with Netball SA.
"As a brand, our core purpose is everything we want to touch must have progressed so we believe that every girl has a bright future and we want to see netball going far," she said.
Also sharing her experience with Telkom for the past 5 years is the President of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane shared that in the 5 years, they have outlasted themselves and did more than what was expected from them by Telkom, she also shared that the relationship Telkom has with Netball SA has no expiry date and it is not a sponsorship but a lifelong partner of Netball SA.
"Our relationship with Telkom is growing from strength to strength with every year that passes by. As a federation, we are delighted about their commitment to the growth and development of the sport. Their sponsorship renewal for another three years is a testament to their dedication to the sport, and we appreciate that,” she said.
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