BLOEMFONTEIN: The Free State Crinums‘ progression to this year’s Telkom Netball League (TNL) final benchmarked the team as a powerhouse, while taking its existing rivalry with the Gauteng-based Golden Fireballs and Jaguars to new heights. The Crinums had reached their seventh final, winning four and losing three, adding a 40 − 47 loss to their scorecard against the new champions, the Fireballs, on Sunday, 20 July. The final took place in the Durban International Convention Centre.
The Free State girls were on the quest for a fifth title. They hold an impressive record as one of the most successful teams in South Africa, behind the six-time winning Gauteng Jaguars (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023).
En route to the final, they scored back-to-back wins against the Jaguars in the semifinal and round-robin fixture.
Despite finishing on the podium as silver medal winners, the Crinums had a fair share in claiming coveted accolades at the end of the competition and during its course, since April. The team’s captain, Refiloe Nketsa, scooped the best centre accolade, in addition to the three player of the match awards she received.
Other deserving recipients of this title in the Crinums’ camp include Liamé de Lange, Reratilwe Letsoalo, and Ané Retief. The versatile Retief was instrumental in the team’s hard-fought 58 − 52 victory over the Jaguars in the semifinal.
Additionally, the Crinums received a financial reward of R100 000 in prize money as the runner-up. However, the big celebration for the team’s superb performance is Retief securing a lucrative deal with an English outfit, the Nottingham Forest netball team.
The team broke the news on Monday, 21 July. The defender spent time with Manchester Thunder for the 2025 NSL season, and in the last year has been called up to the national team for fixtures against Malawi and at the Fast5 Netball World Series.
Retief was also a part of the national Protea netball team that reached the final of the 2025 Vitality Netball Nations Cup tournament.
In a statement, Chelsea Pitman, Nottingham Forest’s head coach, expressed joy at securing Retief.
“Bringing Ané Retief into the Forest family is a massive win for us. She’s got grit about her, defensive presence, and that classic South African playing style and work ethic.
“From my first conversation with her, I knew she was someone we wanted to pursue in getting for next season. I can’t wait to see her at Forest and see what she brings. Everyone at Forest Netball wishes Ané the very best as she joins the group.”
