UJ brimming with confidence ahead of Varsity Netball 2026

Fresh off an impressive victory at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Netball Championship, the University of Johannesburg enters Varsity Netball 2026 brimming with confidence, cohesion and peak physical conditioning.

The technical team is putting the final touches on tactical integration to ensure the team hits the ground running from the opening whistle. The Orange Army is playing Maties in their opening fixture (Sunday 23 August) before taking on newcomers CUT the following day.

Assistant coach Nkanyiso Yeni says they are more than ready and the energy in the team is good.

“Everyone is calm and the entire squad is fit for the tournament. As coaches, we just need to make sure (the players) are all connected and put the final touches to make sure they hit the road running.”

UJ Netball management and coaching staff hold high expectations for the campaign, targeting nothing less than the championship title.

“The squad has embraced a resilient, high-intensity mindset focused on competing fiercely each weekend,” says Yeni.

Central to this campaign is a balance of veteran leadership and structural depth. Stellar contributors Cornelia Mupenda and Boitumelo Mahloko enter their final Varsity Netball campaign, providing reliable leadership and experience to guide the squad through high-pressure encounters.

Speaking on the senior players’ last chapter with UJ, Yeni says, “Cornelia has been an asset for the UJ team. She’s reliable and relatable with each player in the team. It’s sad to see her and Boitumelo play their last Varsity Netball this year, but I know that they will go out there and make this tournament a memorable one.”

“There is definitely a chance for us to win Varsity Netball this year. Though our squad changes each year, we still have our senior and experienced players who have played the past couple of seasons to do well,” says Yeni.

Yeni adds, “However, we have no pressure to lift the trophy, we are going into the tournament to give it our best shot. We are there to compete and not just to participate and that will do us well to get closer to lifting the trophy.”

UJ Provisional 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.

Fixtures HERE.

Tickets HERE.