Sonia Mkoloma is the new head coach at Birmingham Panthers after a four-year spell as both a Vitality Roses assistant coach and Roses Pathway head coach.
Sonia Mkoloma is hoping her newfound TV fame can help shine a light on the new Netball Super League season.
The 47-year-old is the new head coach at Birmingham Panthers after a four-year spell as both a Vitality Roses assistant coach and Roses Pathway head coach.
The 123-cap England international officiates alongside ex-Premier League football referee Mark Clattenburg on BBC hit show Gladiators following DM’s from the show’s creators about getting her involved.
Mkoloma, who used to watch along as a child with her siblings as they battled one another with pillows, is heading into her third series as part of the revamped cult classic.
With thousands of fans routinely packed into Sheffield’s Utilita Arena during filming days and millions watching around the world on TV, Mkoloma hopes that sort of support can rub off on netball crowds.
“It’s 100% important to look at crowds,” she said. “When we did the Gladiators Roadshow, we sold out across six cities, full shows.
“When we go to Sheffield, the home of Gladiators, it is always sold-out arenas, so for me, it’s about how do we make netball like that? How do we get more bums on seats? And if me being in Gladiators helps encourage that, I’m all for it.”
Mkoloma takes the reins of the Midlands outfit hoping to improve on last year’s sixth-placed finish, with making the top four the ambition after missing out by five points last term.
“It’s a fresh team and a fresh start,” she continued. “New energy, new belief. We’re doing a lot of work on technical execution and tactically we’re bringing in new ideas. I’m excited to see what we look like out there. Pre-season has gone well, so we’re building as a team.”
Plenty of new faces have come through the door in the West Midlands since Mkoloma’s arrival with Future Roses Alanna Pullen, Tami Fapohunda, Izzy Kaye joining Charli Fidler, Tiana Metuarau and Kira Rothwell.
It means Panthers have a very youthful squad going into the new campaign, but Mkoloma insists it’s the right path to take.
She said: “It’s always a risk. But growth requires investment and confidence. Look at teams when the league first started, those young players have grown and are now thriving.
“It takes time. It’s about investing in young players and allowing them to blossom.”
Mkoloma is hoping the strategy pays off and wants to emulate Clattenburg in being able to leave her mark in her particular sporting field.
“It is about being iconic,” she said. “It’s about leaving a legacy. And that’s what I hope to do with the netball of Birmingham Panthers.”
Panthers are the only team to have appointed a new head coach for 2026, and it also sees Mkoloma become the only person of colour in a top coaching role.
Aware of her position, Mkoloma hopes to use her platform to trailblaze and open doors for more people to follow in her footsteps.
She added: “I noticed I’m the only black head coach and it’s about awareness and encouragement.
“Even in the Birmingham/Midlands region, I am encouraging more coaches to come forward through coaching masterclasses.
“There’s so much talent out there in that coaching space, but we’re not represented enough. So how do we keep bringing people through that pathway, into the coaching realm, so that the coaches get better and we give more experience?
“That’s what we’re working towards. It’s a big task but I enjoy it. It’s about setting a standard and people seeing who they can be.”
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