Cold shower for netball fans in South Africa. They will still have to wait to witness the birth of a pro league. In any case, it should not see the light of day before the 2023 World Cup scheduled in the country.

The South African netball world is dreaming of it. And everyone was hoping to see a pro league set up soon. But fans of this sport mainly practiced by women will still have to take their troubles patiently. This league of which they dream of seeing the realization is not for tomorrow. The government indicates, in fact, that there is no chance that such a structure will emerge before the 2023 World Cup.

The Ministry of Sports justifies this situation by slowing down plans for the realization of this complaint of the followers of this discipline. A blow confirmed by the deputy general manager of the promotion of the sport.  “We have to be honest: we won’t have a professional league by then (the World Cup),” Sumayya Khan said, quoted by South African media .

The World Cup to change the game

But, it may be just a parenthesis. Because the process is already underway. “I think we will come a little closer to it, given that many processes have already taken place over the past seven years to set up a Premier League which will ultimately lead us to a professional league,” reassures the official to the minister Sports .

However, there is nothing to say with certainty that this league will see the light of day just after the World Cup. Because netball must first attract more and more people. Which is not the case for the moment. He will therefore have to be satisfied with the Premier League, which is not yet professional. The World Cup could, however, be a game-changer. But in the meantime, the best South African players will continue to emigrate to cash in on their talent.