Could netball be taking a nosedive once again?

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

NETBALL has been improving significantly across the country with Premier and Rainbow Netball Leagues highly competitive to produce quality national team players.

While running parallel, the two leagues have not disappointed in producing top players who have also bagged accolades on the international stage.

However, while in terms of quality the sport code is on an upward trajectory, sponsorship challenges could be creeping in.

For years, Nedbank have been the known sponsor for PNL with the financial organisation pouring in US$100 000 in 2023.

The figure was to be split between the senior national team (the Gems) and the league, even rebranding to the Nedbank Premier Netball League.

However, since 2024, the sponsor has not put up a lump-sum towards league funding.

Instead, Nedbank last year revealed that they would fund events as they come, in a move that raised questions on the benefactor’s commitment.

On the other hand, RANL also appears to be on a decline following a US$32 000 Glow Petroleum sponsorship kitty that has been put up for this season.

For a league that chewed up at least US$68 000 last year, this fund will not be enough, and clubs may face a difficult season as they will be expected to self-fund.

Further, in an unfamiliar situation, RANL only managed to host their 2025 awards night recently after postponing the event thrice.

In previous years, all participating teams were financially rewarded at the end of the year for their participation.

However, this year, only the top five teams were rewarded.

And prize monies for the winners dropped this time in what could have been a glaring statement around funding challenges creeping in.

“If we look at what is happening in both leagues in the past two seasons, you can tell that financially something is just not right,” said an administrator, who could not be named for fear of victimisation.

“Nedbank and Glow have been the leagues’ sponsors for years but without complementary sponsorship it will eventually become tough for them.

“We are now in that phase, and based on history, if these leagues do not get complementary sponsors, netball could be in huge trouble.”

While the corporate sector appears reluctant to commit to sponsor netball, the netball authorities also seem to have shortcomings that scare off sponsors.

In 2019, when the Gems made an impact in a memorable Netball World Cup debut in Liverpool a number of sponsors wanted to be associated with the game.

Econet, Edgars, Spar Zimbabwe, Eve Gym and National Foods, among others, came on board to rescue netball.

However, their stay was short-lived.