Founded | 2014 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Based in | Polokwane | ||
Regions | Limpopo | ||
Head coach | Emily Mathosa | ||
League | Telkom Netball League | ||
Limpopo Baobabs are a South Africa netball team based in Polokwane. Since 2014 they have represented Limpopo in the Telkom Netball League. In 2023 they were Division Two champions and, after winning a play-off, they were promoted to Division One.
In 2014, Limpopo Baobabs, together with Southern Stings, Kingdom Stars, Mpumalanga Sunbirds and Northern Cape Diamonds, became founder members of Division Two of the Brutal Fruit Netball Cup. [1] [2] [3] Between 2014 and 2016, Baobabs were coached by Cecilia Molekwane. [4] [5] Molekwane subsequently became the president of Netball South Africa. [6]
In 2023, Limpopo Baobabs finished the season as the Telkom Netball League Division Two champions. Baobabs were exceptional in the round-robin stages, winning 13 out of 15 games to qualify for the semi-final. In the final they defeated Western Cape Tornados 65–40. [7] [8] [9] After defeating Kingdom Stars 55–37 in a promotion/relegation play-off, Baobabs replaced Stars in Division One. [10] [11] At the 2023 Limpopo Women in Sports Awards, Limpopo Baobab were named the Team of the Year and their head coach, Emily Mathosa, was named Coach of the Year. [12] In 2024, Baobabs lost all their Division A matches during the round-robin stages but in a promotion/relegation play-off, they defeated Kingdom Stars 65–40 and, as a result, they secured their spot in the top division. [13]
Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 [7] [8] [9] | Limpopo Baobabs | 65–40 | Western Cape Tornados | Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria |
Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 [10] [11] | Limpopo Baobabs | 55–37 | Kingdom Stars | Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria |
2024 [13] | Limpopo Baobabs | 65–40 | Kingdom Stars | |
Years | Captains |
---|---|
2020–2023 | Nthabiseng Mothutsi [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] |
Coach | Years |
---|---|
2014–2016 | Cecilia Molekwane [4] [5] |
2017 | Dumisani Chauke [19] [20] |
2018 | Jenne-lee Delport [20] |
2020 | Paulinah Thobakgale [14] |
2020–2021 | Anna Ledwaba [15] |
2022– | Emily Mathosa [9] [16] [18] |
Coach | Years |
---|---|
2021 | Vasta Nchefu [15] |
2022 | Monique Lombard [16] |
2023 | Tshimangadzo Munyai [18] |
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo.
The South Africa national netball team, also known as the SPAR Proteas, represent Netball South Africa in international netball tournaments, such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. Their best result in a major tournament is a silver medal at the 1995 World Netball Championships. As of 1 March 2024, South Africa are currently fifth in the World Netball Rankings.
The 2008–09 Premier Soccer League season was the thirteenth since its establishment. Supersport United were the defending champions, having won their first Premier Soccer League title on the final day of the previous season. The campaign began in August 2008, ended in May 2009. A total of 16 teams contested in the league, 14 of which contested in the 2007–08 season, and two of which were have been promoted from the National First Division.
Lebogang Manyama, nicknamed “Kaka” is a retired South African professional soccer player who is the assistant coach of Cape Town City F.C.
Baroka F.C. is a South African football club from Ga-Mphahlele near Polokwane, Limpopo that plays in the National First Division also known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons, following their relegation from the top tier division commonly referred to as DStv Premiership.
Ronwen Hayden Williams is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns and captains the South Africa national team.
Karla Pretorius is a South African netball player, and has represented her country with the South Africa national netball team. She plays in the positions of Goal Defence (GD) and Wing Defence (WD).
Bay United was a South African professional football (soccer) club based first in the city of Port Elizabeth and later Polokwane. It played in the South African Premier Division and National First Division.
The Premier Netball League is the top level netball league featuring teams from South Africa. It was formed in 2014 and is organised by Netball South Africa. Between 2014 and 2018, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements, the league was known as the Brutal Fruit Netball Cup. Since 2019, the league has been sponsored by Telkom and, as a result, it is widely known as the Telkom Netball League. In 2014, Free State Crinums were the inaugural winners. Gauteng Jaguars are the league's most successful team, having won six titles. The league features two divisions and uses a promotion and relegation format. The winners of the Division Two Shield can gain promotion to Division One by winning a play off.
Netball South Africa is the main governing body for netball in South Africa. It is affiliated to World Netball and the Confederation of African Netball Associations. It is responsible for organising and administering the South Africa national netball team, the South Africa men's national netball team, the Netball South Africa Challenge and the Telkom Netball League, as well as numerous other leagues and competitions for junior and youth teams. Its headquarters are based in Arcadia, Pretoria.
Renske Stoltz is a South African netball player.
Khanyisa Chawane is a South African netball player. She was selected to represent the South African netball team at the 2019 Netball World Cup and the 2023 Netball World Cup hosted in South Africa.
Gauteng Jaguars are a South Africa netball team based at the University of Pretoria. Since 2014, together with Gauteng Golden Fireballs, they have represented Gauteng in the Telkom Netball League. They are the league's most successful team and, as of 2024, have featured in every final. Between 2017 and 2021, Jaguars won five successive titles. In 2023, they won a sixth title. In 2017 and 2018, they also represented Netball South Africa in the Netball New Zealand Super Club.
The 2022–23 South African Premier Division from 5 August 2022 to 20 May 2023 was the 27th season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996. Mamelodi Sundowns successfully defended the title for the 6th time, having won the title from the 2017–18 season. Sekhukhune United relocated from Ellis Park Stadium to Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The 2022–23 National First Division was the season from September 2022 to June 2023 of South Africa's second tier of professional soccer, the National First Division.
Isabella Kruger is a South African tennis player. She has a career high singles ranking of No. 330 achieved on 26 December 2022. She is the daughter of former international rugby union player Ruben Kruger.
The 2023–24 National First Division is the season from September 2023 to June 2024 of South Africa's second tier of professional soccer, the National First Division. Magesi gained an automatic promotion to 2024-25 DSTV Premiership League after defeating Milford by 3 goals to 1 with 2 matches on hand on 05 May 2024.
The 2023 Carling Knockout Cup was the first season of the South African association football competition, the Carling Knockout Cup, under its new sponsored name. It was organised by the Premier Soccer League and Carling and ran from 21 October 2023 to 16 December 2023.
Karmen Fouché is a South African track and field athlete. In 2024, she became national champion in the triple jump.
Free State Crinums are a South Africa netball team based in Bloemfontein. Since 2014, they have represented the Free State in the Telkom Netball League. They were the inaugural league champions. Between 2014 and 2016, Crinums won three successive titles. In 2024, they won a fourth title.