African netball is entering a new chapter, with stronger governance, growing commercial investment and more structured development pathways reshaping the sport across the continent.
That evolution will take centre stage when Kenya hosts the Africa Netball Cup for the first time at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi from 19 to 26 September 2026.
Ahead of the tournament, the careers of Joan Smit and Khungekile Matiya highlight two important sides of African netball’s development: building sustainable pathways for athletes and strengthening the governance and commercial structures behind the game.
Building pathways for the next generation
Joan Smit’s connection to netball dates back to the early 1990s, when Namibia was establishing its national identity following independence.
As captain of Namibia’s first national netball team, Smit experienced first-hand the challenges of competing in an environment where resources and sporting structures were limited. Those experiences would later influence her focus on development and athlete-centred systems.
Around 2008, she moved into international sports development, contributing to grassroots participation initiatives and federation support programmes across Africa.
Her work eventually led to her appointment as Africa Regional Development Manager at World Netball, where she oversees development across more than 50 member countries.
Smit’s role involves helping national federations strengthen their governance and development structures while adapting global strategies to the realities of African sport.
One of the key initiatives she has helped advance is the rollout of Netball Community Hubs linked to the legacy of the Netball World Cup.
“These hubs are about more than netball,” Smit said. “They create spaces where young girls can lead, learn and see sport as part of their future.”
The hubs reflect the changing role of women’s sport, where participation is increasingly connected to education, community development and social impact.
Turning netball into a stronger business
While Smit’s work focuses heavily on development, Khungekile Matiya’s career demonstrates the importance of governance, administration and commercial strategy.
Matiya entered sport administration after building professional experience in human resources, administration and procurement. She worked at Real Insurance Company of Malawi Limited and Britam between 2009 and 2023, gaining experience in areas including financial management, contracts and organisational systems.
Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Development and Management, as well as professional and advanced qualifications in insurance and sport management.
Her netball leadership spans grassroots, regional and national structures. She served as chairperson of Blantyre and District netball structures between 2007 and 2013 and later became President of the Netball Association of Malawi from 2017 to 2021.
During her presidency, Matiya helped secure significant commercial partnerships, including a K360 million sponsorship from FDH Bank supporting national teams, competitions and administration.
“We had to position netball as a product that delivers value,” Matiya said. “Sponsorship is not just funding, it is partnership and growth.”
She also introduced measures aimed at strengthening the sport’s administration, including player identification systems, formal contracts and structured sponsorship agreements.
Her approach illustrates how professional management can help women’s sport attract investment while creating more credible structures for athletes and stakeholders.
Netball’s bigger social impact
Matiya’s work has extended beyond commercial growth.
Through partnerships with organisations such as Women’s Voice, she supported initiatives focused on gender-based violence and community development, reinforcing the role sport can play in addressing wider social issues.
“There is a responsibility that comes with leadership in women’s sport,” she said. “It is about impact beyond the court.”
Her involvement with the Malawi Olympic Committee and Women Association in Sports Malawi has also placed her at the intersection of sport, marketing and opportunities for women athletes.
Nairobi set for major continental showdown
The Africa Netball Cup 2026 will bring these developments into focus when teams gather in Nairobi in September.
The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s competitions, while the women’s championship will double as the African qualifying event for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.
South Africa and Uganda have already secured qualification through the World Netball Rankings. The remaining two eligible African places will be determined through the competition in Nairobi.
Beyond the results on court, the tournament represents the growing infrastructure behind African netball.
From community participation and athlete development to governance, sponsorship and international competition, the sport is increasingly being built around systems designed for long-term growth.
The journeys of Smit and Matiya reflect that transformation. One is focused on creating pathways that give young athletes opportunities to progress, while the other demonstrates how strategic leadership and commercial partnerships can strengthen the organisations supporting them.
As African netball prepares for its continental showcase in Nairobi, their work points towards a future where the sport is not only played at a higher level, but managed, funded and developed with the ambition to match it.
Main Image: Supplied
