The University Sport South Africa (USSA) Summer Games will bring the curtain down on the 2025 sporting calendar from 1 to 5 December 2025. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is sending a formidable contingent across three provinces, ready to defend major titles and chase new glory in Basketball, Football, and Cricket.
Chasing the Three-Peat: Basketball 5×5
Fresh off a successful run in the 3×3 format, the UJ Senior Men’s Basketball Team, known as the Orange Wave, are primed to defend their two consecutive USSA 5×5 championships. Under the guidance of Coach Mandla Ngema, the team will be hunting a historic third straight title at the Wits Great Hall in Johannesburg.
“Having secured back-to-back championships in 2023 (Westville Campus) and 2024 (Coetzenburg Centre), the Orange Wave is focused on cementing its dominance,” Ngema said.
The UJ Senior Women’s Basketball Team is also entering the tournament with high expectations. Following respectable 4th and 5th place finishes in the preceding years, the squad’s experience makes them a strong contender for a medal this year.
Football’s Dual Mission: Title defence and qualification
The beautiful game takes centre stage in Tshwane at the University of Pretoria, where both the UJ Senior Football teams have a crucial mandate.
Men’s Team: The Senior Men’s Football Team will be relentless in their pursuit of defending their 2024 USSA title. A successful campaign is vital as they aim to secure their qualification spot for the prestigious 2026 Varsity Football tournament.
Women’s Team: The Senior Women’s Football Team is driven by the goal of redemption. After a disappointing loss in the 2024 final, they are determined to rectify last year’s mistakes and clinch the USSA title this time around.
Cricket: Setting sights on a top finish
The UJ Senior Men’s Cricket Team travels to Stellenbosch with a clear goal to make a significant improvement on their previous performances. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Siyabonga Sibiya, the squad is aiming for a top-tier finish after placing 5th last year.
2025 success
The UJ teams are walking into the Summer Games on the back of an already impressive year of achievements:
Netball: Both the UJ Senior Men’s and Women’s Netball Teams were crowned USSA Champions in their respective tournaments in July.
Rugby: The UJ Senior Women’s Rugby 15s team claimed the championship title in Tshwane in July, while both the Men’s and Women’s Sevens Teams secured silver medals in the USSA Sevens tournament in Stellenbosch in September.
Hockey: The UJ Senior Men’s Hockey Team delivered an impressive performance in Stellenbosch, clinching a bronze medal.
UJ Sport is poised to end the 2025 season on a high note, reinforcing its status as one of South Africa’s premier university sporting institutions.
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