Newly-elected Netball South Africa President Mami Diale is poised to usher in a new era for the sport, driven by an unparalleled depth of experience, having served in every facet of netball, from player and umpire to coach and now, South Africa’s most popular women’s sport’s top administrator.
“I am honoured and humbled by the council members who selected me and my colleagues to lead netball forward. We aim to restore integrity and transparency by implementing programs that empower members and support the organisation’s growth. Our priority is to rebuild, address gaps, and ensure players remain at the centre of our plans,” she told gsport.
Diale says that being a woman who holds the position of president at a national federation means she has a job to identify ways to help NSA grow to its full potential.
“It means recognising members’ unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations. I believe in inclusivity and that collective growth is achieved through mutual respect and shared vision.”
Newly Elected Netball South Africa President, Mami Diale
Diale has held a position in every facet of netball; she has played the game, been an umpire, and a coach, and now she holds the top job when it comes to the sport, a record that solidifies her as a leader of the game. She says that holding a leadership position as a sports administrator has taught her the importance of people.
“As a people-centred leader, I understand that members appreciate being served and understood. I value the importance of meeting each member at their individual level.”
The NSA boss says that her coaching career has taught her valuable lessons that she hopes to use in her capacity as president.
“I was a coach at a young age, and it was at grassroots level, and I have learned that sport and netball can change the lives of players. It can boost confidence and give potential players a better future and keep them off the streets.”
Diale is of the opinion that in a bid to ensure more women are given roles in sport leadership, it’s important to be consistent with initiatives put in place.
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“Capacity building and talent identification play a vital role in the development and success of individuals and teams. Continuous mentoring, coupled with commitment and passion, further contributes to sustained growth and excellence.”
When asked about who the female leaders are, Diale’s answer was rather simple: “The leader to admire is myself, Mami Diale.”
“I am a leader who takes pride in having risen through the ranks and overcome many challenges by believing in myself. I have empowered myself through continuous learning and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding; giving up has never been an option.”
“I deeply admire Norma Plummer, former Australian coach, for her demonstration of knowledge, dignity, and perseverance,” continued Diale. “I also draw inspiration from Muditambi Ravele, former President of Netball South Africa, whose achievements exemplify that women in sport are capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to.”
Diale has been an integral part of netball for several years and has seen the positive growth as well as the challenges the sport faces. She shared some of the biggest advancements the sport has made.
“There has been growth in many facets of the game on and off the field. There are players who have become administrators, and there are players who are now administrators and coaches. Players who have become well-known presenters and netball analysts. There are also players who have represented NSA at the international level, and most of them are now contracted players.”
Diale’s and NSA’s next big tournament will be the Spar National Championships, which starts on 1 December 2025, where 119 districts will compete for the senior A title, and the Under-21 Championships will be played alongside the senior tournament in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
Main Photo Caption: Newly elected Netball South Africa President Mami Diale is poised to usher in a new era for the sport, driven by an unparalleled depth of experience, having served in every facet of netball, from player and umpire to coach and now, South Africa’s most popular women’s sport’s top administrator. All Photos: Netball South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: The new NSA President is committed to capacity building initiatives and continuous mentoring, to ensure more women are given roles in sport leadership.
Photo 3 Caption: Leveraging lessons learned from her coaching career, Diale champions the power of netball to change lives and to provide players with a better future.
