MKHONDO — In a major shake-up for local sports, the Mkhondo Netball Association has officially taken over all netball activities for the upcoming PG Bison Fam-Fest Community Sports Tournament. Set to take place this Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kempville Stadium, this year’s edition marks a historic milestone: for the first time in the tournament’s four-year history, local community netball clubs will compete, while school teams have been booted from the roster.
Historically, the Association’s role was limited to behind-the-scenes support—providing umpires, keeping scorecards, and drawing fixtures for the schools. Now, they are stepping into the spotlight to run the show. The decision to exclude schools stems from a lack of long-term sports development. Over the past four years, participating schools struggled to maintain active play after the PG Bison Fam-Fest Cup concluded. Furthermore, prize money won in previous tournaments was often redirected toward purchasing stationery and other school necessities rather than being reinvested into sports activities. The saddest part is that none of the schools have a netball court or any other sport facility within the school yards.
“We spoke to PG Bison about netball development in Mkhondo and they listened.”
The changes were confirmed during a recent meeting between the Association and the Community Liaison Office responsible for organizing the annual tournament. Speaking to Diski99 Sports News, Mkhondo Netball Association Chairperson Mr. Sbonelo Shiba could not hide his enthusiasm about the takeover. “Yes, we have been given the opportunity to include our teams that play the local netball league. We will be having eight of our best teams competing on Saturday,” Shiba confirmed. Detailing how the decision came about after last year’s games, he added, “We spoke to PG Bison about Netball development in Mkhondo and they listened. We explained to them how including our teams will help us grow and develop netball in Mkhondo.”
Leveling the Playing Field
The Mkhondo Netball League, which plays once a quarter, has historically been plagued by financial hurdles, with the majority of teams struggling to afford playing kits, bibs, and transportation. This tournament promises to temporarily end those struggles, offering clubs the resources and platform they deserve.
This inclusion also brings netball on par with local football. Since the tournament’s inception, the Mkhondo Local Football Association has fielded eight teams from the Mkhondo Promotion League, resulting in tremendous improvements in competition and football development. The local netball fraternity is hopeful that community clubs will reap those same benefits starting this weekend.
The 2026 Tournament Draw
Fans heading to Kempville Stadium on Saturday morning can expect some of the best netball ever witnessed in Mkhondo. The eight participating clubs have been drawn into two highly competitive pools. Pool A contains some of the top-heavyweight teams in Mkhondo, this group is guaranteed to deliver fierce competition. Headlined by last year’s most improved team the Dolphins NC, this group is looking just as thrilling.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format within the pools. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, battling it out in the semi-finals for a spot in the grand finale. The action-packed day will conclude with the highly anticipated final match, followed immediately by a prize-giving ceremony.
Pool A: The “Pool of Death” (home address in brackets)
- Rockstars NC (Thandukukhanya)
- Mvelo Queens NC (KwaThandeka Location, Amsterdam)
- Troublemakers NC (Daliya, Iswepe)
- Highlanders NC (Ajax) – Vumbuka Trust Cup 2025 Champions
Pool B: The Contenders (home address in brackets)
- Dolphins NC (Phola Park, Thandukukhanya)
- Libhaba NC (Commondale)
- Young Stars NC (Mabola/Dirkiesdorp)
- Thembalethu NC (Belfast/Sgudada)
