Mthembu to use TNL as preparation for Gibraltar

Spar Baby Proteas coach, Precious Mthembu says the Telkom Netball League will give players a chance to raise their hands and prove their worth. The junior national team will take part in the TNL this season as part of its preparation for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.

South Africa is one of the 20 teams vying for the title of the best junior netball nation. The under-21 tournament returns to the fold following the cancellation of the 2021 edition due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mthembu’s charges have already had favourable outcomes in their preparations for the global tournament. The Baby Proteas made light work of the junior Sunshine Girls during the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series in Jamaica, handing them a 3-0 whitewash.

The former Spar Proteas midcourt star has called up 25 players who will compete in the top-tier level of the TNL. The 2025 edition will kick off with the first power week set for 26 April to 4 May. Mthembu says this will test her team against the best players in the country which will place them in good stead when they face their peers in Gibraltar.

“It will be exciting to see the other players besides the ones we took to Jamaica. I want to see them being able to fight for their place (in the team), trying to gel and measure their performances with others. They will be given a chance to earn their spot in the squad. I don’t think some of them would have managed to get into the TNL teams as they are first-year (students) and others are still in school. It is a major step for them to get to play in the TNL in terms of maturity and playing against the top players in the country,” says Mthembu.

A day of inspiration in Gauteng! 💛🏐The SPAR Proteas & SPAR Baby Proteas connected, played, and empowered learners at Sinenhlanhla Primary School. The future of netball is bright! ✨#PresidentialOutreach #NetballFamily #TakingNetballBackToThePeople pic.twitter.com/y4r3tEjmnF

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) March 20, 2025

PRESSURE AND INTENSITY

The coaching team will cut down the squad tremendously before getting to their final World Cup team. Mthembu says each of the 25 players will get an opportunity to get on the court to taste the level of the semi-professional league.

“We want to break down the team from a squad of 25 to see who can fit in the final team. We are obviously not part of the semis and finals but we want to make a mark. We want to see them playing against the top in the country, see them at the highest level to see how they handle the pressure and intensity. We will make sure that all the players will get the opportunity to step onto the court,” she says.

The former KwaZulu Natal Kingdom Stars player reckons the competition in the squad will be key in players sharpening each other.

“When the squad is bigger, players tend to fight for their positions whereas if it’s just a team, there’s a bit of relaxation and being in a comfort zone. When the squad is bigger you would be able to see players competing for their spots, which means the level of competition and the intensity are higher. It’s good for us to see that no one is in a comfort zone; no one thinks they have earned their spot (yet). I think it is a bit early to see who will be in the final 12 for Gibraltar. We want them to be in a state where they are uplifting the level of their performance,” she says.

REMOTE TRAINING

The team will have a series of training camps before the TNL begins, following months of remote training and coaching.

“This week we will have a mini-camp and meet again a week before the TNL. We have been doing remote coaching since coming back from Jamaica. Coach Phumza (Maweni) and I have been travelling to players. I think we will be able to take care of the loose ends from next week. Attendance is one of the loose ends (to deal with), players have been involved in exams and have been committed in class. That has been the major challenge at the moment,” she explains.

South Africa are yet to get onto the podium in the youth competition. Mthembu believes that a medal is possible, however, it will be important to learn from the past Baby Proteas in order to get into the top three.

“It would definitely take more competition. We need to have more competition before we head to Gibraltar, and more contact time with the players to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I think personal goals with each player.

"We have to take each game as it comes, break it down and we have to analyse our opponents. We have to know them backwards and do a bit of homework on how to go about playing our opponents. I think we will be more aware of what has happened previously and we can’t be doing the same thing that was done. We have to change some stuff so we can see better results,” she says.