The City of Johannesburg, in collaboration with Netball South Africa (NSA), successfully presented the second leg of the 2026 Telkom Netball League (TNL), which took place from 22 to 31 May 2026 at the Ellis Park Arena.
As the country's premier netball competition, the TNL brought together the nation's top talent across both the A and B Divisions, showcasing elite competition and strengthening the national netball pipeline. Johannesburg's own Golden Fireballs once again took to the court, delivering a strong performance in front of a home crowd.
The 2024 Telkom Netball League champions were cruising well this season. After 12 rounds of matches, the Free State Crinums continued to dominate the competition and remain the only side that has not lost a match in the whole competition.
The Martha Mosoahle-Samm-led side finished the second Power Week on top of Division 1 table with 24 points. They are followed by defending champions the Gauteng Golden Fireballs.
The Crinums will face six-time champions, the Gauteng Jaguars, in the semifinals of the competition. The Gauteng Golden Fireballs will meet the Western Cape Southern Stings in the last round of the competition set for 12 to 15 June at the Heartfelt Arena in Tshwane.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Cllr Thapelo Amad, thanked all stakeholders for the successful event.
“As the City, sports remains one of our key flagship service delivery vehicles as it unearths talent, promotes health and fitness and keeps our youth from bad influences. As the tournament concludes today, I congratulate all participants for making this tournament a success.
“To the organisers and stakeholders, we note with gratitude the immense work you put into bringing this event to fruition. And we look forward to its continuation into the future," said Cllr Amad.
In a landmark development for the league, the 2026 edition hosted an international team, elevating the competition's global profile and offering invaluable high-performance exposure for local athletes.
This year's edition of the TNL was particularly significant as it welcomed international invitational teams, including sides from Malawi and Zimbabwe, reinforcing the league's growing continental footprint and creating valuable exposure for local athletes against international competition.
The City of Johannesburg leg delivered not only world-class netball but also meaningful economic and community impact as fans gathered at Ellis Park Arena to support the continued growth of the sport.
Written by Maseipati Tsotsotso
01/06/2026
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