The 2022 Telkom Netball League at Hatfield Arena in Tshwane on Friday, 20 May 2022 started on a high note with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) players selected as Player of the Match. The UJ players also represented the Gauteng Golden Fireballs, Gauteng Jaguars and Kingdom Stars.
The teams that participated in the TNL included Gauteng Golden Fireballs, Gauteng Jaguars, Kingdom Stars, and Limpopo Baobabs and the SPAR Proteas who played a practice match with the SA men’s netball squad.
UJ netball players who represented the Gauteng Golden Fireballs team consisted of Monica Gomases, Tarle Mathe, Jessica Du Plessis, Monique Reyneke, Nomfundo Mngomezulu, Boitumelo Mahloko, Owethu Ngubane, and Bongi Msomi. Msomi, is a UJ Netball team manager and head coach as well as a national captain, was the captain of Fireballs.
Sanelisiwe Ntobela played for the Kingdom Stars team.
Msomi was selected as the Player of the Match on 20 May 2022. Out of her goodwill, Msomi handed the R3500 cheque to fellow player, Mngomezulu, who had an outstanding performance throughout the match. The Fireballs won 54-30 against Kingdom Stars.
“It means a lot to me for Coach Bongi to hand me the Player of the Match cheque. I am humbled and honored to receive it. My aim is to grow with each match experience and very happy to be part of the Fireballs team. In the team, I can engage with lots of experienced players and Proteas players,” adds ecstatic Nomfundo Mngomezulu who had her first match with the Fireballs team on 28 April 2022.
Zene de Waal and Muhluri Hlatshwayo formed part of the Limpopo Baobabs with Hlatshwayo named Player of the Match on 20 May 2022 having narrowly lost 48-43 to Mpumalanga Sunbirds.
Nonsikelelo Mazibuko was part of Gauteng Jaguars.
Msomi, Monique Reyeke, Boitumelo Mahloko, Owethu Ngubane, Nomfundo Mngomezulu, Tarle Mathe were part of the SPAR Proteas which lost 75-84 to the SA men squad in the closing match of the weekend.
“It is pleasing for the UJ Netball Club to see our players being selected to play for a TNL team. This means that our players get exposed to a more competitive environment and playing in the highest netball league in our country. They learn and build on what they already know, elevate, and return to UJ with more knowledge than before. Playing in the TNL League will take the standards of netball at UJ to the next best level.
“We know the capabilities of our players and anticipated that they would make the teams. We are really happy with the numbers,” explains Msomi, speaking for the UJ Netball Club.
20 May 2022 Results:
Aloes 52-36 Tornados
Fireballs 54-30 Kingdom Stars
Sunbirds 48-43 Baobabs
21 May 2022 Results:
Diamonds 31-80 Aloe
Kingdom Queens 39-40 Baobabs
Flames 51-52 Crinums
Comets 33-52 Sunbirds
Stings 53-57 Jaguars
22 May 2022 Results:
Baobabs 76-30 Diamonds
Comets 44-42 Tornados
