09 February 2023

Today was a red letter day for women’s sport in general and netball in particular. Discovery announced a partnership with Netball South Africa as the Official Wellness Partner to the national team, the SPAR Proteas. Forwardzone is proud to have helped bring these two great brands together, an alliance that promises much.

In a double celebration, the Discovery Group also announced Vitality’s sponsorship of the Netball World Cup, the first time it will be held in Africa (July 28-August 6). Given that the home World Cup is fast looming and the SA team is ranked number five in the world, the timing is outstanding: the three-year team sponsorship will see Discovery playing a leading role in the team’s holistic well-being, including their physical, mental, and financial wellness.

Knowing all of this is taken care of, players can focus on producing excellent play and not be distracted by side issues.
The World Cup could be a watershed for South African netball, especially as it boasts impressive numbers.
Netball is the number one sport played by women in South Africa and ranks as the second most popular of all (behind football) among those over the age of 13. With over 4,7 million followers, netball is also ranked as a top 10 spectator sport overall, with consistent growth in interest among both adults and juniors over the past decade.
The Netball World Cup will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with South Africa hosting 15 international teams.

The Forwardzone Group looks forward to seeing this new partnership flourish in the months and years to come