SPORT Shaping African University Sport through Excellence, Honour & Victory Ruswahl Samaai at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games UJ student bags bronze at Commonwealth Games The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) long jumper, medal finish at the Athletics South Africa Senior Championships Ruswahl Samaai, claimed the bronze medal in the in Potchefstroom in April 2017, placed Samaai second in the much contested long jump event at 2018 Gold Coast international rankings behind South African counterpart, Luvo Manyonga, with a 8.65m national record. Commonwealth Games in Australia on Wednesday, In 2017, Samaai earned the bronze medal at the IAAF World 11 April 2018, with a leap of 8.22m. Championships in London, finished in second place at the IAAF Samaai emerged third in the long jump event, with fellow South Diamond League final in Zurich and was named UJ Sportsman African athlete Luvo Manyonga securing the gold medal with of the Year for the second consecutive year. a winning leap of 8.41m, and Australia’s Henry Frayne claiming silver with a jump of 8.33m. The UJ student has represented Team South Africa in several After having overcome injuries that interrupted his 2016 season international championships including the recent 2016 Rio and going through what Samaai describes as a ‘rollercoaster Olympic Games and the World Student Games that took place ride’, his personal best jump of 8.49m that secured him a silver in Chinese-Taipei late last year. NEWSLETTER April 2018 1 #TeamUJ at Commonwealth Games Congratulations goes out to the following UJ students, alumni and staff member who competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and for flying the University’s flag high: ATHLETICS Men Ruswahl Samaai (Student, Long Jump) Roger Haitengi (Staff, Namibia, Triple Jump) Anthony Mwanga (Student, Tanzania, Long Jump) HOCKEY Men’s team Gareth Heyns (Student) Tyson Dlungwana (Student) Owen Mvimbi (Alumni) Clinton Panther (Alumni) Women’s team Kristen Paton (Student) Lisa-Marie Deetlefs (Alumni) Bernadette Coston (Alumni) Roger Haitengi (left) and Tyson Dlungwana (below) at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games NEWSLETTER April 2018 2 UJ Rowing crowned 2018 USSA USSA Rowing Regatta Champs Earlier this month, The University of Johannesburg (UJ) rowing team won the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Rowing Regatta which was held at Misverstand Dam in the Western Cape. This competition is a sprints contest with features nine higher learning institutions. UJ’s Caleb Haydock, Bradley Pirie and Ashton Lucey were selected to row in the Grudge boats (Half National University colours). Mzwandile Sotsaka, Dimitri Xides and Michelle Kotze were selected to row in the Blues boats (Full National University colours). Points: UJ crowned 1st University of Johannesburg 508 Points 2nd University of Cape Town 479 Points 3rd University of Pretoria 434 Points When Coach Sizwe Ndlovu was asked to comment on the team’s USSA Rowing performance he said, “Orange is the new gold hashtag USSA Champs 2018”. Our team displayed great teamwork and that won us that trophy. All of those early mornings paid off and we Champs are proud to be a part of the winning UJ team!” Picture of the team at the USSA Women’s 7s Top 3 finish for UJ at Rugby Tournament Women’s USSA 7s After several near misses in previous years, the come again. In the end the sport of rugby was the winner and University Women’s Rugby 7s team did not achieve that’s all that matters.” what they had set out to do at the University She added that the players were always hungry to do better and were still motivated for the challenges ahead. Sports South Africa (USSA) Women’s Sevens Rugby Results: Tournament, however they are extremely proud of UJ 27-5 Central University of Technology their overall performance. UJ 38-7 Tshwane University of Technology Team manager Tumi Leseke said they were proud of the squad’s UJ 38-7 University of Western Cape efforts and the determination and commitment they showed. “I Semi-Final: UJ 0-47 University of Pretoria feel the girls put their hearts into everything they did on Saturday Congratulations to UJ’s Joy Cheptoo and Voice Ndou who were and wouldn’t have changed anything,” she said. selected for the USSA Women’s 7s Dream Team after their great “The girls held their heads high and believe that their chance will performance during the tournament. NEWSLETTER April 2018 3 UJ’s Voice Ndou who was selected for the USSA Women’s 7s Dream Team UJ takes top glory at SASAPD National Championships The University of Johannesburg Sport for Student with Disabilities (SSD) Club competed at the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) National Championships (28 March – 03 April 2018) , specifically in two sporting codes: Athletics & VI Judo. The athletes overall and individual performances were outstanding as they collected nine medals of which six were Gold, two were silver medals and one bronze medal. Furthermore, the Gauteng Seniors (UJ Students and Alumni) won the trophy for the overall Best Senior Team. Sheldon Thomas Participated in the 100m and 200m (T13) track events and obtained gold medals in both. 100m in a time of 11.21 200m in a time of 22.59 Christiaan Schultz Participated in the 200m and 400m (T44) track events and in the T44 Long Jump event. Gold in 400m 60.00s Silver in Long Jump 6.09m (Personal Best) Silver in 200m 25.94 Jacque Joubert He competed in open class and weight (U/84kg), he got two gold medals. Open Class: Gold Medal U 84kg: Gold Medal Participated in the 100m (T12) track events and in the F12 Shotput event 100m Bronze Medal 12.5s Shotput Gold Medal 8.91m Palesa Manaleng Participate in the T54 Class 100m 2nd 200m 2nd 1500m 2nd Team Captain and Flag bearer for Gauteng Photographs from the National Championship NEWSLETTER April 2018 4 UJ takes top glory at SASAPD National Championships Thamsanqa Khonco, taken at the World University Cross Country Championships Bronze medal for UJ student at World University Cross Country Championships Earlier this month, the University Sports South African (USSA) student team represented #TeamSA at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Cross Country Championship which took place in Switzerland. Two UJ’s athletes, Cian Oldknow and Thamsanqa Khonco, participated in the championships, and Thamsanqa Khonco took home the bronze medal in the 10km event. The World University Championship events offers cities and often universities the opportunity to host a major international sports event with a minimum cost and complexity. In 2018, 34 stand-alone World University Championship events make for a calendar full of quality competitions. “We are delighted with the quality that our athletes are putting up in the international events. It is exciting to see our athletes winning, it is a great deal for our country and university image in sport. All we need to do is provide support to them so that they continue doing great,” says Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, UJ Sport Senior Director. FISU launched the World University Championship series in 1963. The first FISU World University Championship took place in Lund, Sweden. NEWSLETTER April 2018 5 2018 VARSITY SPORTS HOCKEY FIXTURES Varsity Sports Hockey will be taking place from 4-21 May 2018 at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) (4-7 May) and the University of Pretoria (Tuks) (11-21 May). As the hashtag suggests, the first bumper weekend of the tournament has been nothing short of #HardHittingAction. Results: UJ 0-5 Tuks / UJ 7-0 UFS-Kovsies / UJ 3-2 NWU / UJ 2-4 Wits All UJ staff and students are invited to go through to Tuks to support the Orange Army as they set out to defend their title. Below are the fixtures of the second bumper weekend at Tuks: 11 May 2018 UJ v NMU Madibaz, 15:15 12 May 2018 UJ v UCT, 15:15 13 May 2018 UJ v Maties, 17:00 14 May 2018 Play-Offs 21 May 2018 FINAL Silver for UJ at USSA Athletics Track & Field The UJ Athletics Club took part in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Track and Field Championship which took place in Sasolburg over the long weekend (27-29 April 2018). UJ boasts a host of fantastic individual performances, all of which were instrumental to the overall second position finish by the Orange and Black Army. Congratulations to Club Manager, Mr Roger Haitengi and all the participating athletes for their hard work and dedication! UJ’s Tamzin Thomas, Dumisane Hlaselo 100m women new and Henry Makane USSA record holder won silver and bronze, respectively in the men’s 1500m event NEWSLETTER April 2018 6 USSA Athletics Track & Field Results Sport Results Overall results The UJ Basketball Club took part in the Annual Ashraf Memorial North West University (Potchefstroom) Basketball Tournament over the long weekend (27-30 April 2018), University of Johannesburg at Wits: University of Free State Men: Pool matches: University of Pretoria UJ v Wits 2, won 45-35 Tshwane University of Pretoria UJ v Rotanda, won 58-35 Gold Medals UJ v Junior Classic, won 46-24 Tamzin Thomas, 100m women: 11.42sec (New USSA Record) UJ v Phenoms, lost 52-53 Kyle Blignaut, Shot Put Men: 18.70m Quarter-Final: UJ v Wits 1, won 68-65 Rachel Leistra, 21km Women: 1:22:18.41 Semi-Final: UJ v Rising Suns, Lost. Thamsanqa Khonco, 21km Men, 1:06:18.20 Julia Du Plessis, High Jump Women, 1.80m Women: Pool matches: Zinzi Chabangu, Triple Jump Women, 13.65m UJ v Maties, lost 35-42 Zarck Visser, Long Jump Men, 7.93m UJ v NWU, won 47-29 Werner Visser, Discus Throw Men: 56.74m UJ v Phoenix Flames, lost 30-40 Mavundla Mzwakhe, 21km Walk Men, 1:29:16.00 UJ v Wits 2, won 42-13 Silver medals Did not qualify for semi-final, finished 3rd in pool.