Adam Brooke reflects on his first three months as Netball SA CEO

Appointed in February as the first male CEO of NSA, replacing Modiegi Komane, Brooke is approaching the 100-day mark and has already immersed himself in the day-to-day operations of the sport.

Since taking office, he has attended the Telkom Netball League to ensure the competition is run professionally, engaged with coaches, and held discussions with potential commercial partners to help grow the sport.

Brooke also confirmed that the Proteas players remain contracted and are being supported as they prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

According to Brooke, his first few months in charge have given him confidence that South African netball is moving in the right direction. 

"Yes, it's been good and we obviously had the first two power weeks of the TNL, which have been very successful. Two very long weeks, but the teams have done fantastically well. The support has been good, the tournaments have been good, the turnout has been good, so it's been really positive in terms of the competitions and day-to-day management and running of the office," said Brooke.

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"Working closely with the team, making sure that we are aligning in terms of financials, budgets, and contracts. Managed to work with all of the players; all the players have since been contracted. We are now in the process of meeting with the coaches and reviewing their contracts."

"In terms of the commercial side, we've had a couple of ups and downs, but I've had a few good meetings with respective partners. We are in advanced discussions with at least one, and we are looking at a couple more. So all in all, I think it's been a positive three months. It 's certainly been full-on, and we are busy, but it's very good."

Brooke, who brings more than two decades of experience in sports administration, says one of the biggest challenges he has encountered is improving communication within the sport.

Brooke believes stronger collaboration between stakeholders is essential if netball is to continue growing and achieving greater success both on and off the court.

The 49-year-old says one of his key priorities is delivering on his vision of making netball a professional sport in South Africa. 

He revealed that plans are progressing for the launch of a new professional netball league in 2027.

Brooke also provided an update on the federation’s long-awaited headquarters, which was previously promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

While there has been progress in discussions, NSA is still working towards securing a permanent home.

While preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August remain a major focus, Brooke says NSA is also planning for the future.

The experienced administrator, who has worked on major international events including the Tour de France, Olympic Games, Africa Cup of Nations and Rugby World Cup, revealed that the federation is looking at hosting a Diamond Challenge tournament in January 2027. 

He added that growing the men’s game is also among the federation’s priorities.