Adam Brooke on being the first male CEO of Netball South Africa
17th February 2026
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Brooke takes over from former CEO Modiegi Komane, whose contract ended in October, and says the journey to the position was both humbling and unexpected.
He told SABC Sport that he came across the job advertisement on LinkedIn, decided to apply and was later invited for an interview.
That was followed by a one-on-one engagement with NSA president Mame Diale, where he underwent what he described as a rigorous selection process.
Brooke admits he still finds it hard to believe that he has been entrusted with leading one of the country’s biggest sporting codes.
He officially assumes duty on 16 March 2026 and says his goal is to elevate netball to the highest possible level.
"It's a massive honour – a huge honour. The fact that I am responsible for a federation in South Africa is an incredible honour to me. It's something I've worked my entire career for, and I am certainly going to give it my everything. The fact that I am the first male CEO is such a great honour. I hope that my experience and what I have to bring to the team is going to enhance Netball in South Africa," said Brooke
The 49-year-old steps into the role with over 20 years of experience across various sporting codes, including cycling, rugby, tennis, boxing and football.
He has worked with global governing body FIFA during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and also held roles at top PSL clubs Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Brooke says sport has always been central to his life and believes the breadth of his experience will add significant value to NSA as it looks to grow and professionalise further.
Brooke, who also served at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, told the national broadcaster that he considers himself fortunate to have consistently worked at the highest levels of sport.
He says returning home to contribute meaningfully to South African sport and serve NSA is both a privilege and a responsibility.
He believes his journey has prepared him well for the task of taking netball to greater heights.
His contract is aligned with president Mame Diale’s four-year term and runs until December 2029, unlike his predecessor who was granted a one-year extension. Brooke says his mandate over the next four years includes strengthening governance structures, enhancing high-performance programmes and attracting commercial partners to grow the sport’s footprint.
He emphasised the importance of building sustainable partnerships that will allow fans across the country to see their heroes in action and ensure the long-term growth of netball in South Africa.
"The role is very much to take Netball to another level in South Africa. I believe that Netball has great potential. The men's and the women',s teams are doing exceptionally well on the court, and it's now about giving them more opportunities off the court – whether that's bringing in commercial revenue or sponsorship, assisting the teams, and making sure they have the materials and tools to be able to compete. I think that vitally important."
