Golden Fireballs wary of late wobble despite perfect Telkom Netball League run
Owethu Ngubane of the Fireballs tries to get a shot off while Jamie van Wyk of the Jaguars tries to make the block during a tense Gauteng derby in TNL Power Week 2. The Fireballs are unbeaten so far in the country's premier netball competition.
Image: Netball South Africa
The Golden Fireballs have scorched through the first two rounds of the Telkom Netball League unbeaten, but know that they can't go off the boil in Power Week 3 if they are to win the title.
The Joburg side, who have won all nine matches so far at Sun City in North West, were in a similarly strong position in the past two seasons of the country's premier netball competition.
Under the mentorship of former Proteas and SA Under-21s coach Dr Elsje Jordaan, assisted by former Proteas skipper Bongi Msomi, they hope to finally add to their 2022 title.
'This is my fourth year with the Fireballs. We won it in 2022 when I just took over and they were actually a struggling team,' Jordaan told Independent Media Sport.
'In 2022 and 2023 we ended third. We lost in our semifinals by one and two goals respectively, so we just fell short. But actually we had a great run in 2022 and 2023 and ended top of the log, then just fell short in the semi-final, which was heartbreaking.'
This year, the Fireballs have a perfect record of nine wins in nine games in Division 1 from the first two power weeks at Sun City, North West.
They top the log with 18 points, four ahead of defending champions the Crinums, heading into Power Week 3 at the Durban ICC from July 14.
'Obviously you never go out and say it's going to be a perfect run but for now, having eight or nine wins for us is just massive and we're very excited about that,' Jordaan said.
'It's the first time in the history of the Fireballs that we managed to beat the Jaguars and the Crinums twice in a row, so it's big for us.'
The Free State Crinums and Gauteng Jaguars boast the most TNL titles between them and are among the perennial favourites to lift the trophy.
'I though there were a couple of teams that actually pushed us quite hard. The first power week was extremely tough – we had to play eight games in seven days,' Jordaan admitted.
'And then when we came up against the Flames and the Aloes, they made us dig really deep. So we're looking forwards to playing them again in the third power week and seeing the growth in our systems.'
The veteran coach credits their strong campaign so far to a blend of exciting young stars and senior players who have stepped up at key moments.
'Owethu 'Sammy' Ngubane, our captain Tanita van Dyk, who can play on both sides of the circle, attack or defence, have definitely put up their hands,' she said.
'I think Cornelia Mupenda has been great for us. She also won four Player-of-the-Match awards. Tarle Mathe is our engine in the middle. These senior players are leading by example at the moment.'
Jordaan also praised the value of team unity off the court for the side based at Wits University.
On the court the Fireballs play an adaptable, fast-paced game.
The Golden Fireballs boast a blend of exciting young payers and veterans who have all stepped up in their unbeaten TNL 2025 campaign so far.
Image: Netball South Africa
'In our circles we can easily play a holding circle or a moving circle. Then we're very versatile at the back,' she said. 'We've got great players, we've got height, we've got speed so that we can counter other teams' style of play.
'But the way the players are coming together, the belief in one another, the trust, that is just massive to watch. And then how they execute the game plan is really important.'
The Fireballs mentor is all too aware that a loss of focus or intensity in the final stage could still see them end the season empty-handed. She will be keen to keep her charges grounded heading to Durban.
'For us there's still three pool games, and it's important that we keep the winning momentum,' she said.
'Often they say losing is a culture, but winning is also a culture. You need to know how to win, you need to know how to close games, and that's what we're going to try keep doing.'
The Fireballs' title charge has been boosted by a clean bill of health.
TNL Power Week 3 runs from July 14 to 20 at the Durban ICC.
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