The much anticipated Netball Premier League (NPL) will finally kickoff after month and months of delays due to lack of funding. The multi-million rand, five-year title sponsorship deal with South African Breweries was launched at Monte Casino. It will be the first ever semi-professional netball league in Africa and will feature 10 teams representing the nine provinces, with Gauteng contributing two teams. Here’s SAB’s Executive Director of Strategy & Business Support Yolanda Cuba with more on this…

Meanwhile Netball South Africa president Mimi Mthethwa couldn’t contain her excitement after the launch…

Mthethwa has also admitted that she doesn’t foresee any discrepancy within the league after the right personnel were deployed…

According to Mthethwa foreigners are not allowed in the League for now. But in contrast during the 2012 and 2013 Diamond League Challenge when the idea was pitched players from Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabawe showed a huge interest, and NSA at that time were very welcoming…

In the meantime minister of Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation Fikile Mbalula reckons the grand opening for the Brutalfruit Netball Cup under the auspices of NPL will be out of this world…

And Mbalula says South Africa is forever comparing itself with developed countries and no wonder he was berserk when Bafana Bafana lost to Nigeria as oppose to Brazil…

All matches will played on weekends starting from the 10th of May at University of Pretoria (TUKS) Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo