KZN Netball Super League

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤, 𝐊𝐙𝐍 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬| 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬

The KwaZulu-Natal Netball Federation extends its best wishes to all our districts competing at the 2026 SPAR National Netball Championships, taking place from 5–11 August 2026 at Stellenberg High School, Cape Town.

Wear the KZN badge with pride, play with passion, and give your very best on court. We have every confidence that you will represent our province with excellence, determination, and true sportsmanship.

Go make KZN proud!

Lonwabo Khumalo

https://www.kznnetball.co.za/womens-month-celebrating-our-queens-lonwabo-khumalo

WOMEN'S MONTH | CELEBRATING OUR QUEENS | LONWABO KHUMALO KZN Netball Federation is a non-profit organization responsible for governing, promotion and development of Netball in the province of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. It is made of 10 executive who are elected every four years and is decentralized into 10 Districts and one Metro. KZN Netball is a membe...

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 | 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 | 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐨 𝐊𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐨

This Women’s Month, KZN Netball sits down with Lonwabo Khumalo, the talented Goalkeeper and Goal Defender for Pongola Mighty Queens and Kingdom Queens.

Hailing from the rural town of Dundee, Lonwabo’s journey is a true testament to where talent and determination can take you. She was first spotted during a schools netball tournament, where her performances earned her an invitation to join Pongola Mighty Queens

Lonwabo Khumalo’s rise continues to inspire. In 2024, the talented Zululand defender was crowned U21 Defender of the Tournament at the National SPAR Championships, a testament to her exceptional defensive ability. She went on to earn a place in the U21 SPAR Baby Proteas squad that competed in the 2025 Telkom Netball League, further cementing her status as one of South Africa’s brightest young defensive prospects.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐨 𝐊𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭?

On court I’m a fighter. I’m loud, I’m competitive, and I live for the contest. I hate giving up an easy goal. Off court I’m pretty chilled and family-focused. I’m from Dundee, I love spending time with my people, praying, and laughing with friends. Netball is my passion but my heart is in my community.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫?

I started playing at Empathe Combined School in Dundee just to keep busy after class. The coach put me at defence because I’m tall and I’m not scared of contact. I fell in love with it , shutting down attacks feels like solving a puzzle. Watching Phumza Maweni and Karla Pretorius growing up also made me want to be that wall for my team.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Consistency and trust. This year I focused on my fitness, my footwork, and reading the game earlier. But the biggest key was my teammates. At Kingdom Queens and Pongola Mighty Queens the midcourt fed me so much ball and we communicated non-stop. When the unit works, the defender looks good.

𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐊 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐃, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐊 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐃?

I love the battle. The 1-on-1s, the intercepts, the rebounds that’s where games are won.
I enjoy GK because it’s pure pressure and you can change a game with one turnover. But I prefer GD because I get to work across the court, close down space, and set up the attack.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐍𝐋 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?

Definitely the Division 2 final. Even though we narrowly missed the title with Kingdom Queens, the intensity was unreal. To be named Player of the Match in that game means a lot because I left everything on court.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

It meant everything. It’s for Pongola, for my coaches, and for every young girl watching back home. It told me that hard work in a small town can be seen on a national stage.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫?

Pongola Mighty Queens grounded me and taught me discipline and pride in where I come from. Kingdom Queens pushed me at a higher level, faster play, new systems. Switching between them made me more adaptable and mentally tough.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬?

I watch footage if I can, and I talk to my WD and C about their favorite moves. In warm-up I test their timing. During the game I’m watching their feet and their eyes.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?

My first coach is Khayelihle Hlongwane , and my mom. My coach believed in me when I was still raw. My mom drove me to trainings and tournaments even when money was tight. And the Proteas defenders I grew up watching.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

Money, transport, and visibility. Coming from a rural area, getting to trials and affording gear was hard. I overcame it with community support and by never missing a chance to prove myself. I trained with what I had.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧?

Make Division 1 with Kingdom Queens, get into a SPAR Proteas training squad, and win a TNL medal. I also want to cut down my penalties and increase my intercepts.

𝐈𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭?
100%. I’m working on strength, speed, and game IQ. I’m studying top international defenders and asking for feedback after every TNL game. I’m staying ready.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥?
Don’t let your zip code decide your future. Work hard where you are. Use what you have. Show up, be coachable, and be brave enough to put yourself forward for trials.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲?
It’s been everything. My family kept me going. My coaches pushed me. My teammates became sisters. And Pongola always shows up for me.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?
Ngiyabonga kakhulu. Thank you for believing in a girl from Dundee. This journey is ours. I promise to keep working and keep making you proud.

🏅 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 & 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

The Ria Ledwaba Foundation is inviting talented young athletes from all sporting codes to apply for an incredible scholarship opportunity to attend some of South Africa's top-performing sports schools.

📌 See the poster for application details, eligibility criteria, and closing dates.

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🇿🇦

Spar Proteas, so far 3/3