SPORT Shaping African University Sport through Excellence, Honour & Victory FNB Varsity Cup Rugby 2019 FNB Varsity Cup Rugby Results 2019 FNB UJ 8 v 23 FNB NWU FNB UJ 19 v 40 FNB UP-TUKS FNB CUT 27 v 26 FNB UJ UCT IKEYS 42 v 23 FNB UJ FNB UJ 39 v 16 FNB WITS FNB MATIES 24 v 13 FNB UJ FNB UWC 29 v 17 FNB UJ FNB UJ 14 v 38 FNB UFS SHIMLAS The UJ Rugby first team at the 2019 Varsity Cup Shandre Hoffman is crowned Miss UJ Varsity Cup Shandre Hoffman was crowned Miss UJ Varsity Cup at the crowning ceremony at UJ Stadium, with her are first princess Mohau Matinketsa (left) and second princess Mavelous Mhlanga (right) NEWSLETTER March 2019 1 University of Johannesburg student Shandre Hoffman was crowned Miss UJ Varsity Cup when the round- robin phase of the rugby competition drew to a close last night. At the crowning ceremony at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg, the industrial sociology honours student received the top accolade, with Mohau Matinketsa the first princess and Mavelous Mhlanga the second princess. Hoffman said she had entered the Miss UJ Varsity Cup contest as she was a strong advocate of social change. “I feel it is our responsibility to help better the lives of those around us,” she said. “I believe that if I have the privilege to be associated with this prestigious platform, I will be able to make a real difference on a larger scale. “Secondly, I think sport builds character to live by. It was through my own engagement in sport that I learnt the importance of teamwork. You are only as strong as your weakest link and I realised that it is beneficial to build up those around you.” A personal experience in 2017 also allowed Hoffman to learn how to handle the tough things in life. “I had to go through hormone replacement therapy and this caused me to gain weight and break out in acne,” recalled Hoffman. “My confidence took a hard knock and there were times when I didn’t even want to leave my house, but I learned to love myself in spite of my flaws. “I saw this as an opportunity to continue to grow and love myself, while also spreading the message of body positivity to others.” She added that former UJ rugby star and current Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi stood out for her as an example to others. “He was told at a young age he would not make it as a rugby player, yet he still chose to pursue his passion and worked hard to become the success he is,” she said. Miss UJ Varsity Cup 2019 Shandre Hoffman “In life, rejection is inevitable, but Aphiwe’s grit on and off the field can be a source of inspiration to pursue your dreams, “One day, I hope to start a non-profit organisation that provides despite the hardships you may face.” staples to students in need.” While her long-term ambition is to become a professor of UJ Sport Events manager Niahm Faherty paid tribute to all 10 sociology at the University of Johannesburg, Hoffman is already contestants in the competition. trying to make a difference. “I am so proud of each and every one of these ladies,” she “I have benefited immensely from the opportunities afforded to said. “People take for granted how hard it is to step out of your me by UJ,” she said. comfort zone and this is definitely unknown territory for a lot of “As a result, I have undertaken an outreach programme with the these ladies. rural youth of the informal settlement of Weiler’s Farm. “They have gone above and beyond with community service and “I take stationery and books to the youth, and share study tips I could not be more proud. with them in an effort to keep them in school so that one day “Miss UJ Varsity Cup will be our official ambassador for the year, they might be able to go to university and have an education but each of these ladies is an ambassador within their own right that changes their lives, as it did mine. and they epitomise what UJ stands for.” Varsity Athletics Our UJ Athletics side ended off their Varsity Athletics campaign in third position. The second meet took place on the 15 March at NWU. Second meet wrap – RESULTS Position / Performance / Athlete / Team Men 110m Hurdles 2 14.57 TLADI, MPHO UJ Women 400m Hurdles 3 1:01.28 TSETSEWA, CYNTHIA UJ Men 400m Hurdles 2 0:51.94 DLAMINI, SABELO UJ Women High Jump On you marks... 1 1.84 DU PLESSIS, JULIA UJ > page 3 NEWSLETTER March 2019 2 Werner Visser during Varsity Athletics in Potchefstroom UJ going faster, further and higher at Varsity Athletics Position / Performance / Athlete / Team Position / Performance / Athlete / Team Women Triple Jump Women 100m 1 13.29 CHABANGU, ZINZI UJ 1 11.49 THOMAS, TAMZIN UJ 2 12.36 MORAKE, GONTSE UJ Men 100m Men Triple Jump 3 10.43 SABELA, SAMKELO UJ 2 15.37 MAGOMO, ATTAIN UJ Men Discus 3 14.88 MOTHLAKE, JUBILANT UJ 1 59.02 VISSER, WERNER UJ Women 800m Men Javelin 3 2:12.23 KELLERMAN, LIZA UJ 3 66.79 VAN VUUREN, HERCULES UJ Men 800m Women Shotput 3 1:50.22 MOKAFANE, MPHO UJ 1 15.81 STRYDOM, MEIKE UJ Women 4x100m Relay Men Shotput 2 0:48.96 RELAY TEAM UJ 1 18.98 VAN ROOYEN, JASON UJ Men 4x100m Relay 2 17.35 VISSER, WERNER UJ 3 0:40.30 RELAY TEAM UJ UJ Rugby players learning CPR > page 4 NEWSLETTER March 2019 3 UJ Rugby with Sea Rescue South Africa CPR training that took place at APK Campus UJ Rugby players and technical team came together to learn CPR and raise water safety awareness with The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and Sea Rescue South Africa earlier this month, as part of the Varsity Cup initiative to raise water safety countrywide. UJ football players who were in camp with the USSA national team, preparing for the World Student Games later this year. Above – From left to right; Boitumelo Rashelo, Dineo Magagula, Thato Letsoso, Refiloe Maseko and UJ Ladies Head Coach Jabulile Baloyi Right– From left to right; Nkosinathi Sibiya, Neo Lebopa, Mpho Rammala and Head of UJ Development Coach Karabo Mogudi NEWSLETTER March 2019 4 UJ rugby student receives Zimbabwe honour University of Johannesburg student Stephen Bhasera has been honoured by his native country, Zimbabwe, for his hard work and dedication to rugby. The Varsity Cup prop, who has been sadly sidelined for the season by an injury, has been nominated for the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in the Sports Personality of the Year category for 2018. “It is an initiative that honours Zimbabweans who reside outside of their home country and are doing commendable things in a variety of fields,” said Bhasera, who will graduate from UJ with a law degree (LLB) in April. “It covers categories from business to community work to academia, sports, culture and media. “The awards take place annually to honour Zimbabweans based in five different countries and I have been nominated for Sports Personality of the Year for South Africa 2019.” The 23-year-old Bhasera said he was privileged to be considered for the award. UJ prop Stephen Bhasera is tackled during their clash “It is a good feeling to receive the recognition, but also humbling against North-West University at the UJ Stadium in the to be named among people such as Kaitano Tembo (SuperSport Varsity Cup rugby competition earlier this year United coach) and Tapiwa Mafura, who himself took the Varsity After being part of the Young Guns set-up at UJ, he graduated to Cup by storm in 2018.” the Varsity Cup squad this year before the injury ended his future With his home base being Kadoma in Zimbabwe, Bhasera lives in the competition. in Atholl in Johannesburg, although he will be leaving later this “I played the first three games of the season and then suffered year to study in the United Kingdom. an injury in training that has put me out for the rest of the Having initially received offers to attend various top law schools programme. around the world, Bhasera chose to pursue his career in UJ. “Despite that my Varsity Cup experience has been largely “I took that route because I wanted to exhaust my desire to play positive – it’s a unique initiative that combines the benefits of professional rugby and to play at the highest level,” he recalled top-level rugby with the perks of studying at an institution of after leaving school at Falcon College in Zimbabwe. higher education. “Having the Lions [rugby franchise] on board in terms of a “I wouldn’t say I’ve found the transition into Varsity Cup difficult contractual commitment was the main motivation for deciding or the games to be more physical than what I’ve experienced to take the SA route.” before. However it is still an extremely high level of rugby.” He turned out for the Lions U19 team in 2015 and played for For now, though, his sporting career will be on the backburner as the province in the SuperSport Challenge and the Currie Cup he turns his attention to a Masters in Law degree (LLM), starting premier division. in the UK in September. USSA UPDATE – USSA Athletics Results GOLD SILVER BRONZE SEBELE, Tsaone (Women’s 100m) THOMAS, Tamzin (Women’s 200m) VAN DER MERWE, Nicole (Women’s 5000m) DU PLESSIS, Julia (Women’s High Jump) VAN DER MERWE, Nicole (Women’s 10000m) TSHEPO, Lefete (Men’s 110m Hurdles) CHABANGU, Zinzi (Women’s Triple Jump) LEISTRA, Rachel (Women’s Half Marathon) CHESWILL, Johnson (Men’s Long Jump) MENZI, Mthembu (Men’s Triple Jump) NTSHINGILA, Patience (Women’s Triple Jump) WAGNER, Monique (Women’s Shotput) BLIGNAUT, Kyle (Men’s Shotput) STRYDOM, Meike (Women’s Shotput) GEEL, Leandri (Women’s Discus) VISSER, Werner (Men’s Discus) VAN ROOYEN, Jason (Men’s Shotput) MAVUNDLA, Mzwakhe (Men 20km Walk) JONES, Cherise / SEBELE, Tsaone / OBAKENG, Maoka / ODELE, Tege / CHABANGU, Zinzi / THOMAS, Tamzin / CHESWILL, Johnson / MPHO, Tladi NTSHINGILA, Patience