University of Johannesburg Netball Club, commonly known as UJ Netball, are a South African netball team based at Kingsway Campus Auckland Park at the University of Johannesburg. Their senior team represents the university in Varsity Netball. They also enter teams in University Sports South Africa, Netball South Africa and local Gauteng competitions. In addition they organise a University of Johannesburg netball league.
History Varsity Netball In August 2019, Bongiwe Msomi, South Africa's captain, was appointed UJ Netball's head coach. In 2022, UJ Netball played in the semi-final stages of Varsity Netball for the first time. In 2023, Msomi guided UJ Netball to their first Varsity Netball final. However, they finished as runners up after losing 63–61 to UP-Tuks in the final. In 2024, Msomi guided UJ Netball to the final for the second consecutive year. However, once again they finished as runners up, this time losing 58–55 to UFS Kovsies.
Other competitions USSA At the 2019 University Sports South Africa tournament, UJ Netball narrowly missed out on promotion to a more senior division. After winning the Premier A division, they lost a promotion-relegation play off 45–44 against the University of the Western Cape. At the 2022 USSA tournament, both the senior and reserve UJ Netball teams won their respective divisions and gained promotions. UJ Netball hosted the 2024 USSA tournament at the UJ Netball Courts in Westdene. For the first time, the tournament included a men's netball competition. The UJ Netball Men reached their final, finishing as runners-up after narrowly losing 44–41 to TUT. The senior women's team also finished second after losing 41–40 to UP-Tuks in an entertaining final.
JNA Twizza League In 2021, UJ Netball won the Johannesburg Netball Association section of the Twizza Netball Club Championships. This league is organised by Netball South Africa and features district, provincial and national sections.
Gauteng In 2022, UJ Netball were runners up at the Gauteng Province Netball Championships. In 2023 they won the Gauteng Netball Super League using their reserve team as the senior team was playing in Varsity Netball. They won this title just a few days ahead of the senior teams second consecutive appearance in a Varsity Netball semi-final.
Finals Varsity Netball Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2023UP-Tuks63–61UJ NetballRembrandt Hall2024UFS Kovsies58–55UJ NetballCallie Human Hall
Notable players Captains Years Captains Deancke Rohde2016Rykie Venter2019 Liza Kruger2022Cornelia Mupenda2023, 2024
Internationals
Boitumelo Mahloko Tarle Mathe Nomfundo Mngomezulu Owethu Ngubane Monique Reyneke
Monica Gomases Liza Kruger Cornelia Mupenda
Telkom Netball League UJ Netball players have represented several teams in the Telkom Netball League, most notably Gauteng Golden Fireballs. In 2022 when Fireballs won the TNL title, their squad featured seven UJ Netball players plus Bongiwe Msomi who was the UJ Netball head coach. In 2023 approximately sixteen UJ Netball players, representing seven teams, were included in TNL squads.
2022 Gauteng Golden Fireballs Jessica Du Plessis Monica Gomases Tarle Mathe Monique Reyneke Boitumelo Mahloko Nomfundo Mngomezulu Owethu Ngubane
Coaches Head coaches Coach YearsDavid Maree20xx– 2019 Bongiwe Msomi2019–
Honours Varsity Netball Runners Up: 2023, 2024 Gauteng Netball Super League Winners: 2023
References
External links UJ Netball on Facebook UJ Netball on Instagram