Fireballs set the gold standard during intense week of TNL action

Netball SA
Jun 17
4 min read

Power Week 2 of the Telkom Netball League at Sun City concluded on Tuesday, marking the end of an exciting and action-packed week.

The Golden Fireballs, led by coach Dr Elsje Jordaan, continued their winning streak in the Telkom Netball League (TNL), completing a whitewash in the second leg held at Sun City Sun Park. Building on their impressive performance in Power Week 1, Jordaan's players dominated the Zambezi Eagles, winning 50-41. Goalkeeper Cornelia Mupenda was outstanding, earning her fourth Player of the Match award of the season. Her exceptional defensive skills were instrumental in the Fireballs' victory. With this win, the Gauteng side solidifies their position at the top of the league table, occupying the No 1 spot in the Division 1 log standings and showcasing their consistency and grit.

The Southern Stings secured a commanding 66-51 victory against the Eastern Cape Aloes, showcasing tenacity throughout the match. Although the Aloes improved significantly in the second half, especially after introducing Kaylin Coetzer in the shooting position and Princess Kanetsi in the circle, they were unable to bridge the gap to the Stings who delivered an impressive performance, boasting an 89% shooting percentage compared to the Aloes’ 75%, which highlighted their efficiency in scoring. Both teams were nearly equal in terms of intercepts, indicating a closely contested defensive match.

Aloes coach, Sameisha Esau, acknowledged her team's effort. "I'm extremely proud of my girls for their determination and resilience. Despite being down by 20 goals, we managed to close the gap to 14, demonstrating our team’s fighting spirit. I commend their effort, especially given our limited practice time. However, we need to focus on reducing turnovers, capitalising on opportunities and refining our centre passes."

Stings coach, Dr Freda Kemp, stated: "I'm thrilled with our performance and we accomplished what we set out to do by earning two points. Our focus will be on correcting our mistakes, improving our precision and fine-tuning our strategies. With a lot of work ahead, we aim to stay in the top four for the final leg."

Lauren Adendorf, the goalkeeper for the Southern Stings, was named Player of the Match for her outstanding play.

The North West Province teams (Flames and Tshukudu) played the last two matches of the day, starting it off with a battle where the Baobabs initially led by a goal after the first two quarters but the Flames made a remarkable comeback in the third quarter, outscoring them 18-11 goals. Alix Horn’s standout defence helped turn the tide for the Flames, while Christi-Mari Coetzee, named Player of the Match, and Martiné Jordaan excelled in the shooting circle. Despite the Baobabs' nine intercepts and strong defence, the Flames' scoring, including critical shots from Sunel Smit, resulted in a 48-59 victory.

Flames coach Elsunet du Plessis said: “The team's character shone through tonight. Once they gained momentum, they believed in themselves and pushed through. Consistency is key, and the ladies showed improvement.”

Baobabs' coach Emily Mathosa remarked: “After a solid first half, we lost focus and didn’t capitalise on our momentum. We need to maintain our intensity, especially in the last quarter. I believe my team can bounce back and perform better next time.”

The final match of the day was exhilarating, as Tshukudu faced the Kingdom Stars from KwaZulu-Natal. The game ended in a dramatic 46-46 draw, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. KD Stars coach, Nompumelelo Mthembu, felt mixed emotions, acknowledging a strong start but noting that unnecessary pressure disrupted their plan. Despite this, the team showcased resilience, with standout players Thulisile Maduna and Nozipho Ntshangase making a significant impact.

Mthembu reflected: "The game was tough, and we started strong. We'd planned to feed the ball to our shooters but at times, we hesitated. Despite the setback, we have time to regroup and work on our composure and confidence. For the third leg, we'll focus on attacking with poise and trusting our shooters to make their shots. We need them to be confident and decisive, not hesitant."

Tshukudu coach, Vivian Foko, expressed pride in her team's fighting spirit, even while fielding only 10 players due to injuries. The introduction of Jeane Visser on defence helped strengthen their strategy, while Anri Liebenberg performed well under the posts.

"I'm so proud of my team's effort tonight. They worked incredibly hard and it's a testament to their dedication. I reminded them that they're here because they're capable of handling pressure. Looking ahead to the third leg, I know it'll be tough, so I'll be preparing intensively to ensure we're ready," said Foko.

The Comets, Sonoblomo and KD Queens struggled this week and upon returning home will now refine their strategies in preparation for Power Week 3, set for July 14-20.

You can catch the action live on SuperSport Variety 4 channel 209 or check out the Netball South Africa website for fixtures and updates.

Tickets are available on the Netball South Africa (NSA) website at just R100.