Netball Premier League promises to be bigger and better

05 April 2016 - 13:32 By Times LIVE
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The 2016 Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League, Africa’s largest semi-professional netball league, will begin at the Heartfelt Arena, in Pretoria on Friday 8 April 2016.

From L-R: General Manager of Flavoured Alcohol Beverages Micah Naidoo, former Proteas national netball team captain Simnikiwe Mdaka, Netball SA President Mimi Mthethwa and Sports and Recreation Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen.
From L-R: General Manager of Flavoured Alcohol Beverages Micah Naidoo, former Proteas national netball team captain Simnikiwe Mdaka, Netball SA President Mimi Mthethwa and Sports and Recreation Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen.
Image: Netball SA via Twitter

This will bring about the third season of a tournament that has proven hugely popular in the past and has assisted with the elevation of the standard of competition at provincial level.

This year’s tournament will be bigger and better than before, with matches played across three cities with all 10 teams competing in a single round robin format, as opposed to the two-tier system of the past.

The tournament will now take place over eight weekends as opposed to five weekends.

After Pretoria, the matches will move to Ellis Park Indoor Arena, Johannesburg; while the Olive Convention Centre in Durban will host the last leg, ending on May 29.

This is an important step towards achieving the brand’s key objectives of the brand to make the league the premier provincial league in South Africa.

“We are proud and excited about our third year as the founding sponsor of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League.

"This sponsorship is a deliberate attempt by SAB to address the gender inequalities that persist in the sports industry, and reaffirms our company’s commitment to South African sports.” said General Manager of Flavoured Alcohol Beverages Micah Naidoo.

"The Brutal Fruit brand celebrates energetic young adult women who want to achieve their aspirations, which makes this brand an ideal sponsorship partner for a sports league that celebrates dynamic women with high standards of excellence.

"For decades, SAB has had the privilege of being able to invest in the development of sporting talent in our country.

"We hope our continued support of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League, will help provide a platform for new heroines and role models, while contributing to women’s economic gains” Naidoo concluded.  

Keeping viewers abreast with developments of the games will be Simnikiwe Mdaka, this year's Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League Ambassador.

The Cape Town born is no stranger to the netball courts; she is a former Fast5 player and represented the country at the highest level as the Captain of the South African Netball Team.

Furthermore, one of the key initiatives around the Brutal Fruit Premier League is to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Netball South Africa and the South African Breweries through Brutal Fruit, will once again dedicate a ‘Pink Drive’ day during the 2016 season to this worthy cause. Details will be provided in due course.

The League allows players the opportunity to showcase their talents at national level, so that South Africans can be inspired by this highly competitive sport.                                                                                                                                                                   

The first two years have provided rich entertainment and competitive on court action. Therefore, with the expanded format and matches across the country, 2016 is sure to provide the best Brutal Fruit Premier League competition yet.

Tickets are available at Computicket at R20-00 per person and selected matches being broadcast live on SuperSport.

Round 1 Fixtures: Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria

Friday, 8 April 2016

18:00: Gauteng Jaguars vs. Free State Crinums

20:00: Limpopo Baobabs vs. Mpumalanga Sunbirds

Saturday, 9 April 2016

12:00: North West Diamonds vs. Western Cape Southern Stings

16:00: Gauteng Golden Fireballs vs. Limpopo Baobabs

18:00: KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Stars vs. Eastern Cape Aloes

Sunday, 10 April 2016

10:30: North West Flames vs. Eastern Cape Aloes

12:30: Gauteng Golden Fireballs vs. Western Cape Southern Stings

  - Netball SA

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