The Free State and Proteas legend, Karla Pretorius, is heading back to Bloemfontein.

This comes as the star player officially announced that she will not be returning to the Sunshine Coast Lighting next year.

Pretorius who was the vice-captain of the Proteas during the recent Netball World Cup in Cape Town spent seven years with the Brisbane-based team in Australia.

Pretorius told OFM Sport that she will continue to play for the Proteas until at least the beginning of next year.

“I've officially announced that I won't be returning to Sunshine Coast,” said Pretorius.

“I've been playing there for seven years and it's a big part of my playing career - one that I'm truly grateful for. But it's time for me to head back to South Africa.

“It makes a few things more difficult now that we have a family, and I had to put the family first. We decided that I am going to stay in Bloemfontein.

“I have peace in my heart that it is the right choice and I'm looking forward to whatever lies ahead in this next chapter.

“I'm still going to play for the Proteas. There is an upcoming Test in Australia, then we have a Test series in England in December, and then in January there is another series. My aim is to play in those series and then I will just reevaluate everything and decide on what comes next.”

Pretorius has previously also represented Kovsies, the Free State Crinums and Bath in England. In 2019 she was named as the Player of the Tournament at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport