Approximately sixteen (16) netball players who are current University of Johannesburg (UJ) student-athletes and club members are gearing up for action in the 2023 Telkom Netball League (TNL) set for April, June and July. The players represent seven (7) teams from Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga provinces.
The 2022 TNL champions, Gauteng Fireballs, feature three UJ Netball Club players, Nomfundo Mngomezulu, Owethu Ngubane, and Boitumelo Mahloko as well as their coach and manager, Bongiwe Msomi. According to the four ladies, they are set for a repeat of last year’s performances in TNL this year.
The Fireballs will embark on their first four matches Polokwane against the Jaguars, Flames, Stars, and Aloes from Thursday, 27 to 30 April 2023, respectively, in the first take at the Ngwako Ramahlodi Sports Complex. Later in June, the team will play the rest of the fixtures against the Cranums, Stings, and repeat fixtures before heading into the semi-finals and finals on Thursday, 29 June and Saturday, 1 July in Gauteng.
“For us as the UJ Netball Club, we’re excited to play in the Telkom Netball League because it prepares us for the University Sport South Africa (USSA) and Varsity Netball championships. The TNL is a good preparation for those who will be playing in the upcoming World Cup in July and August and for others to raise their hands for an opportunity to be spotted for national teams. The players get to gauge their performances against the rest of the other provincial squads in addition to what we have done with the national netball camps,” says Msomi, who is both a coach at UJ and a player in the provincial and national teams.
Other students and club members who will be competing in the TNL include Jessica du Plessis, Monica Gomases, Mihluri Hlatshwayo, Cornelia Mupenda, Zene de Waal, Ashley Gray, Nobuhle Sibisi, Sanelisiwe Ntombela, Nosihle Mkhwanazi, Nonsikelelo Mazibuko and Noxolo Mdlalose as well as Nomsa Zungu as Coach of the Fireballs.
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