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MBABANE – The return of the Swaziland Building Society (SBS) sponsored netball league has secured a different venue at the Zakhele Courts, taking a shift from the usual venue which is the OlympAfrica Sports Centre.
The change of venue was viewed as a positive by the competing clubs, saying it was good for marketing and development of the sport.
Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) Coach Wandile Sithole, said the limited netball facilities in the country were derailing netball development and requested an evaluation of the facilities before releasing the fixtures.
“Hosting the league games in different venues is good for marketing the sport of netball. However, only one court is in a good state, but the teams’ concern is that the fencing is too close to the playing area as opposed to the courts in OlympAfrica.
“We are happy to return to the game and this time around, we are targeting the championship and all will be determined by our training,”
WEEKEND FIXTURES:
Sithole said.
The games will be played before the official sponsorship launch scheduled for June 4, 2022, as announced by the new Eswatini National Netball Association (ENNA) Secretary General Bongiwe Gamedze. The Zakhele Netball Courts will play host to four fixtures, welcoming Manzini Ladies and REPS at 9am.
Derby
Then male teams will be up in arms in the next two fixtures, starting with a forces derby pitting Correctional and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) at 10am, while REPS and Vixens battle it out at noon. The closing match will see Mbabane Raiders ladies going up against Vixens at 3pm.
“We are happy to welcome the return of the SBS League on Saturday after what was a successful pre-season and closing ceremony. We are looking forward to another thriller league season in the elite and regional leagues,” Gamedze said.