The University of Johannesburg (UJ) continues to cement its reputation as a premier incubator for elite sporting talent. In a much-anticipated move and development for the university’s netball programme, student-athletes Tarle Mathe and Owethu Ngubane have been contracted to South Africa’s national netball team, the SPAR Proteas.

Joining them in the national setup is teammate Sanelisiwe Ntobela, who has been drafted as a training partner, further highlighting the depth of talent within the Orange Army.

The elevation of these athletes comes on the back of sustained excellence on the court. Both Mathe and Ngubane were integral to the national squad during recent high-stakes championships, most notably the SPAR Challenge International Test Series held at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Arena in early 2026.

The trio’s transition to the professional tier is a natural progression following consistent appearances in the national team and their dominant tenure with the UJ Senior Women’s Netball Team and the Telkom Netball League champions Gauteng Golden Fireballs. Between 2022 and 2025, the trio played pivotal roles in guiding UJ to two consecutive Varsity Netball semifinals and finals.

Insights from the sideline

Former SPAR Proteas captain and current UJ Netball Club Manager and Coach, Bongiwe Msomi, expressed immense pride in the athletes’ achievements:

“Seeing Tarle, Owethu, and Sanelisiwe break into the national structure is a remarkable. It is a reflection of their relentless work ethic and the high-performance culture we’ve cultivated at UJ. These professional contracts are not just wins for the individuals, but a validation of our programme’s ability to produce players who are ready to compete on the world stage. We look forward to watching them represent the Green and Gold with the same tenacity they showed before and in UJ colours.”

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