
UMP raises Mpumalanga flag at university sports games
According to UMP spokesperson Tlangelani Ubisi, teams are competing in four sporting codes – rugby, basketball, volleyball and netball. The rugby teams are playing at the Hillcrest Sports Campus, hosted by the University of Pretoria.
ALSO READ: Sam Nzima Foundation celebrates Youth Day with action-packed soccer and netball tournament
The volleyball teams are competing on the indoor courts at the University of Cape Town, while the netball team is in action at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, with matches taking place over five days. The basketball squads are competing at the University of the Witwatersrand from July 1 to 6.
Ubisi noted that the tournament features a demanding fixture list, with playoffs and finals scheduled for July 4, followed by the closing ceremony and prize-giving.
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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Bok Women's World Cup preparations boosted by Vainah Ubisi comeback for Black Ferns clash
Towering lock Vainah Ubisi returns to the Bok Women fold for her first appearance in green and gold this year as the team prepare to face the Black Ferns XV with the Rugby World Cup a month away. The Springbok Women take on the Black Ferns XV on Saturday at Athlone Stadium with an eye on their World Cup preparation. The Women's Rugby World Cup — which will take place in England — is less than a month away and the Springbok Women have been handed the timely return of star lock, 22-year-old Vainah Ubisi. Ubisi missed a large chunk of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered last year, and was then operated on at the start of the year. Her appearance against the Black Ferns XV — the second New Zealand side — will be her first in the Green and Gold this year as she lines up alongside Anathi Qolo in the second row in a much-changed Bok Women side from the one that took on Canada across the start of July. Qolo and Ubisi replace regular captain Nolusindiso Booi and Danelle Lochner who started against Canada in Gqeberha. The 22-year-old tighthead lock was a breakout star for the Women's Boks last year, collecting four Player of the Match awards in 2024, being crowned the MyPlayers Women's Players' Player of the Year award as well as being nominated for South African Women's Player of the Year, beaten by Nadine Roos. 'It's been a big boost having Vainah back,' Springbok assistant coach Franzel September said on Thursday. 'I'm quite excited for her.' The thought of representing South Africa at the World Cup is what kept the rampaging lock going throughout her extended rehabilitation process, with the sole thought floating around her head being the quadrennial tournament. 'When I got injured last year that's what was in my mind — if I'm going to make it to the World Cup squad, if I'm going to be back in time,' Ubisi said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday. 'I did my rehab in Stellenbosch, so while I was there, the team coming in and me being around the team, I think that actually eased me a little bit. It was not easy being alone, doing rehab alone. It was tough. But I'm just grateful that I'm back and I was able to be back in time.' Rotating squad The locks aren't the only change with Swys de Bruin and his coaching team deciding to test out and continue their pattern of trying out new combinations despite South Africa's opening World Cup match, against Brazil, being exactly one month away. 'It's building for the World Cup,' September explained as the reason for the chopping and changing in the squad. 'Canada, Africa Cup, now Black Ferns, it's all part of World Cup preparation. 'We're trying some new combinations or some different combinations as we did in the Canada Test matches.' Those changes in combinations have been made with the halfbacks as well, with Tayla Kinsey and Libbie Janse van Rensburg starting at nine and 10. Roos and Eloise Webb played those positions in the second match against Canada but have been shifted to their more regular positions of fullback and outside centre, respectively. Tighthead prop Babalwa Latsha will captain the side as one of only six players to wear the same starting jersey as they did against Canada in Gqeberha. 'We wanted to make sure that everyone in the assembled group gets game time, while we also have the luxury of another match next weekend, where those with niggles can get a run as well,' said De Bruin. Captain Booi, Lochner, Sizophila Solontsi, Byrhandré Dolf and Ayanda Malinga are all recovering from niggles following the Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 'We have made good strides this far and we are improving,' De Bruin said. 'The Black Ferns XV will be tough opponents, but that is why we wanted them here. 'We don't play against the top sides enough, so like we were against Canada, we will be tested in numerous areas of the game. The coaching staff are keen to see how this group of players respond to the challenges that the New Zealand side will bring.' DM The match starts at 5pm on Saturday at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Vainah Ubisi on her journey back to the Springboks: 'Stellenbosch was a nightmare'
Springbok Women's lock forward Vainah Ubisi will be making her comeback against the Black Ferns XV on Saturday at Athlone Stadium. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Springbok lock forward Vainah Ubisi has revealed that her immense desire to be part of next month's Rugby World Cup in England was the fuel that fired her towards a comeback against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. Ubisi, who has not featured for the Bok Women since last year's WXV 2 clash at the same venue after rupturing her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), was included in Performance Coach Swys de Bruin's starting team yesterday for the historic clash. The Bulls Daisies star has spent the intermittent months down in Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) where she underwent an intensive individual rehabilitation programme. 'When I got injured last year, that's what was in my mind. If I'm going to make it to the World Cup squad, if I'm going to be back in time,' Ubisi told the media. 'It was not easy being alone, doing rehab alone. It was tough. Stellenbosch was a nightmare for me! 'But as time went on, there was nothing else on my mind than the World Cup. So everything that I was doing, it was just for... I want to be in the World Cup squad.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The 22-year-old also feels that being close to the rest of the Bok Women's team also helped her recovery. 'I actually did my rehab in I was there, the team was coming in and me being around the team, I think that actually eased me a little bit,' she said. 'I'm just grateful that I'm back and I was able to be back in time. I wouldn't have done it without... I should just thank the Lord. It wasn't going to be easy without a prayer.' There will be no easing back into the action for Ubisi as she will re-enter the fray against one of the most formidable teams in Women's rugby. The Black Ferns may not have the majority of their world champion team in South Africa, but still boast a host of experienced players aiming to stake one final claim to be part of the WRWC squad set for England. Ubisi's direct competitor Maama Vaipulu certainly fits that category with the abrasive Auckland lock expected to come out firing at Athlone Stadium. 'It is not going to be an easy game. We know that it's not their first team, but we just shouldn't take that as an advantage,' Ubisi said. 'We should give our best. Because they're also not going to relax and say we're just training in South Africa. I think we're both going to come hard at it. 'I think it's just going to be a dog's fight at Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.' Anathi Qolo, who also returns to the team she captained at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar last month, will partner Ubisi in the second row after De Bruin made a raft of changes to the side that face Canada in the last Test against Canada in Gqeberha. Captain Babalwa Latsha is one of only four starters in the pack that will wear the same jersey again following their Canadian tussle match, while there are also numerous changes to his backline. The most significant has De Bruin opting to revert Nadine Roos and Eloise Webb to their regular fullback and outside centre positions with Tayla Kinsey and Libbie Janse van Rensburg combining as the halfback pairing instead. 'We've seen now Eloise at 10, she came through nicely. She prefers 13, so we will still play her there,' De Bruin said. 'But apart from that, you know, the spine, the number is not so important for me if you're 9, 10 or 15, because they're decision makers. 'And so, for example, for Libby to move from 10 to 15 is nothing. In any case, if she plays 10, she defends at the 15 position. S, it doesn't really matter.' Springbok Women's team 15 Nadine Roos, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Eloise Webb (vice-captain), 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Maceala Samboya, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Faith Tshauke, 5 Anathi Qolo, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie. Bench: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 20 Catha Jacobs, 21 Mary Zulu, 22 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 23 Zintle Mpupha.


The Citizen
7 days ago
- The Citizen
24 hours in pictures, 21 July 2025
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