Building on the momentum of their recent victory at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Netball Championship, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) netball team technical team has expressed confidence in its team for the 2026 Varsity Netball tournament.
UJ kicks off their campaign on Sunday, 23 August at Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch, in a high-profile opening clash against Stellenbosch University (SU Maties), followed immediately another fixture against Central University of Technology (CUT) the next day.
Assistant Coach Nkanyiso Yeni has highlighted the squad’s state of readiness ahead of the opening fixtures. “The squad is in peak physical condition and completely focused. As coaches, our priority in these final days is tightening our tactical connections so the players can execute seamlessly from the first whistle,” said Yeni.
Still highly motivated by the recent USSA championship in July, UJ has now set sights on the Varsity Football title. The UJ Netball Club management and technical staff have set a clear, high-intensity benchmark for the season. The squad aims to combine structural discipline with seasoned experience to navigate a demanding tournament schedule.
A core strength of UJ’s setup lies in its senior leadership. Stalwarts Cornelia Mupenda and Boitumelo Mahloko are preparing for their final Varsity Netball tournament, bringing indispensable big-match experience to the court.
“Cornelia has been an anchor for this team – reliable, grounded, and respected by everyone,” said Yeni. “While it’s emotional seeing both her and Boitumelo step onto the court for their final Varsity Netball campaign, their presence gives us huge confidence. We are going into this competition with no unnecessary pressure, but with every intention to fight for the title.”
UJ Netball Varsity Netball Fixtures:
| Date | Fixture | Venue | Time |
| 23 August | UJ vs SU Maties | Coetzenburg Centre | 13:00 |
| 24 August | CUT vs UJ | Coetzenburg Centre | 15:00 |
| 30 August | NWU vs UJ | Callie Human Hall | 15:00 |
| 31 August | UJ vs Wits | Callie Human Hall | 13:00 |
| 6 September | UJ vs UFS Kovsies | Wits Multi-Puporse Sports Hall | 15:00 |
| 13 September | UP-Tuks vs UJ | Rembrandt Hall | 15:00 |
| 14 September | UJ vs NMU Madibaz | Rembrandt Hall | 19:00 |
2026 UJ Preliminary Squad
Owethu Ngubane, Kubura Abubakar, Georgia Leppan, Shiloh Berardelli, Neo Mosweu, Jaymee Joubert, Mariska O’Connor, Hayley José, Alexandra Meimaris, Tarle Mathe, Suné Barnard, Kim Ndebele, Kamogelo Motsepe, Boitumelo Mokoena, Tassnique Norman, Kgomotso Maleho, Amara Agabai, Cornelia Mupenda, Boitumelo Mahloko, Amahle Mbatha.
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