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    Karla Victor Earns National Contract as Luca Keun Joins Squad

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    Netball South Africa has adjusted its list of nationally contracted players following the retirement of two senior players within the national team set-up, the federation confirmed in Pretoria on Friday, 23 October 2026.

    Karla Victor, who was part of the initial pool of training partners, has now been added to the group of contracted players, while Luca Keun has been brought in as a training partner to the overall squad. The changes are effective immediately.

    “The addition of both Karla Victor and Luca Keun to the pool of the squad speaks volumes about the growth of the sport, the depth in our squad and the talent that we have in the country,” said Mami Diale.

    “When one looks at the average age of our team, you can see how young the players are, and this clearly demonstrates the fact that we have a bright future in the national team.”

    Netball South Africa President, Mami Diale

    On behalf of Netball South Africa Executive and Coaching staff, we would like to congratulate both Karla and Luca – your hard work earned you this opportunity, please make sure that you continue working hard and welcome to the team officially,” said Diale.

    South Africa are ranked fifth in the world and qualified automatically for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney on the strength of their World Netball ranking on 1 December 2025. At the last World Cup, hosted in Cape Town in 2023, the Proteas finished sixth after losing to Uganda in the playoff for fifth place.

    Uganda had the edge again at this year’s Africa Netball Cup, where the She Cranes beat the Proteas 56-53 in the final at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya, to end South Africa’s run as continental champions. Head coach Jenny van Dyk used the tournament to rest senior players and test new combinations, with Kamogelo Maseko captaining a squad that included Victor.

    Van Dyk has made regular Tests against the world’s top four nations central to her plan for Sydney, with assistant coach Zanele Mdodana having said in April 2025 that beating at least one of those sides was the key to a World Cup semi-final. 

    Speaking to EWN Sport, Diale said preparations had already begun, with the senior team gaining international experience through tours to England, New Zealand and Australia in 2025, and that the programme continues with a planned home series in January 2027, followed by a Test series in England in February. 

    “We have made an agreement with England that is sealed, that we will have an exchange of programmes with them. They will come to South Africa, and we will go to them,” Diale told EWN Sport.

    Contracted Players

    Nicholé Breedt
    Khanyisa Chawane
    Kyla Dames
    Thulisile Maduna
    Kamogelo Maseko
    Tarle Mathe
    Owethu Ngubane
    Refiloe Nketsa
    Nozipho Ntshangase
    Nicola Smith
    Rolene Streutker
    Elmeré van der Berg
    Tinita van Dyk
    Juanita van Tonder
    Jamie Golob
    Karla Victor
    Sanmarie Visser

    Training Partners

    Sanelisiwe Ntobela
    Ané Retief
    Ine-Marí Venter
    Reratilwe Letsoalo
    Entle Futshane
    Phophi Nematangari
    Luca Keun
    Nonsikelelo Mazibuko
    Amber Coraizin
    Xandri Fourie

    Original Copy: Netball South Africa, with editing by gsport

    Main Photo Caption: Karla Victor (left) has been promoted from the national training partner pool to the Netball South Africa contracted players list, while Luca Keun (right) joins the national set-up as a training partner, with the federation confirming the adjustments, effective immediately, in Pretoria on Friday, 23 October 2026. Photo: Supplied

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