From founding a netball club in Bloemfontein to coaching Pretoria’s top teams, Erica Dibela’s rise has been anything but conventional. Today, she is the coach of the Pretoria Kudus and a two-time USSA medalist as coach.
At just 26, Dibela is proving that leadership in sport isn’t reserved for the sidelines it’s forged in the trenches and powered by purpose. For her, success is not just about the medals. It’s about building something lasting.
“Sports leadership is about creating platforms, where athletes, coaches, managers and umpires can grow. It’s about innovation, and it’s about enabling others to be their best.”
Rising Netball Coach, Erica Dibela
Dibela’s coaching philosophy is deeply rooted in discipline, not only in behaviour, but in mindset. She teaches her players to rise above the noise: referees, opponents, and even spectators.
“We don’t play the umpire, we play the game,” she explains. “Retaliation only gets you caught. Discipline keeps you focused.”
Her anthropological background adds a unique dimension to her approach. A postgraduate in Anthropology, Dibela uses her understanding of human behaviour to coach more effectively. She listens, observes, adapts and more importantly, she gives her players a voice.
“I’m not a coach who just says: ‘Do this!’ I ask, ‘What do you think went wrong?’ My players know their feedback matters.”
This collaborative approach paid off in a big way during the 2024 Tshwane Premier League. The TPL is a 13-week platform that combines growth, development, and high-performance participation. The league features multiple clubs, including the Kudus, Northern Angel’s, Jacaranda City, and Tshwane Raiders.
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Dibela inherited a squad of players she hadn’t coached before. “It wasn’t like a school team where you know the girls. They came from different coaching styles and systems. We had to build chemistry from scratch.”
What followed was intense training, unlearning, and growth. The team gelled, bought into her system and eventually, lifted the trophy.
“On the day before the final, they stood up and spoke about how much they’d grown. That moment meant more than the gold.”
Her journey also includes a powerful legacy: Warriors Netball Club, a Bloemfontein-based team she founded to give both male and female athletes a place to grow. It started as a way to complete her required hours. Today, it’s a feeder for university teams and a springboard for talent.
“I started the club to create opportunity for players who didn’t make provincial trials. Today, some of those players are leading teams. That’s growth.”
Her influence extends beyond strategy and tactics, she mentors emerging coaches too. Last season, she handed the reins to her former player-turned-assistant, guiding him from the bench to the boardroom.
“I gave him halftime talks, let him run the team during matches. Now, he’s head coach of our U18 team. That’s the kind of leadership that lasts.”
Dibela is especially passionate about male inclusion in netball, a space she’s advocated for since her university days. Her efforts have seen male players from Warriors rise to varsity and national competitions. And with recent announcements about a Men’s Netball World Cup, she’s optimistic.
“We’ve fought to include men. Now the World Cup is including them too. From here, it’s only building blocks, Varsity Netball, TNL, full male divisions. It’s time.”
Despite her rapid rise, Dibela remains humble. “I’ve been included, given opportunities and I’ve made sure to show up fully. From coaching to being a technical official, I say yes and do the work.”
Her vision for the Pretoria Kudus is simple but bold: build a tribe that thinks fast, works hard, and grows together. With leaders like Erica Dibela at the helm, the future of South African netball is in safe, fearless hands.
Main Photo Caption: From starting a club in Bloemfontein to leading Pretoria’s top talent, Erica Dibela is shaping the future of SA netball, one game plan, one tribe at a time. At just 26, she’s proving that youth is no barrier to leadership. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Dibela’s journey started with Warriors Netball Club, a Bloemfontein-based team she founded to give both athletes a place to grow.
Photo 3 Caption: “I started the club to create opportunity for players who didn’t make provincial trials. Today, some of those players are leading teams.”
Photo 4 Caption: Dibela’s vision for the Pretoria Kudus is simple but bold: Build a tribe that thinks fast, works hard, and grows together.
