Wits staff members cycle for charity

by | Mar 4, 2016 | Sport

Two Wits staff members will be participating in the 15th annual Cape Town Cycle Tour that will be taking place over the weekend to raise awareness and money for the HI HOPES, the university’s Centre for Deaf Studies’ community outreach programme. (more…)

Wits Internal Netball has new structure

by | Feb 12, 2016 | Sport

The Wits Internal Netball League is calling all budding netball players to come register their teams in order to participate in the 2016 internal netball league.
The move, which was decided this week comes as a result of the desire of the internal league to grow.

“I love netball because it’s simple, it’s active and you’re less likely to get injuries than in rugby,” said 2015 Internal League chairperson and first team manager Klaas Mokgomole.
Mokgomole says it is important for the sport to grow in the university. Recruiting these new teams will ensure that there is a larger pool of players and more talent to choose from when the university needs to be represented externally.

“The new structure is aimed at enhancing competition and making sure teams don’t quit,” Mokgomole said.
The new structure of the internal league is that it will now consist of 20 teams in total; 10 of which were top 10 in last year’s league. The teams will be divided into pools A and B respectively, based on their performance in the upcoming season.

Mokgomole says in the past netball was not given the necessary recognition in the past. “I believe it will be recognised this year because the Wits girls won USSA 2015 Championships in Pool B … so netball is in the spotlight” he says.

The pools will function as a kind of a league structure, with Pool A being the “premier league” and Pool B being the first division.
By the end of the season, the bottom three teams in Pool A will be relegated to Pool B and the top three teams in Pool B will be promoted to Pool A.
Pool B, will play their matches on Tuesdays and Pool A will play their matches on Thursdays.

New teams have till February 26, to register. Internal teams will be charged R800 to be part of the league, while external teams will be charged R 1 000 per team.
While players that are not students of the university will be allowed to participate, there are conditions. “You can get any student from any institution and register them in your team as externals … teams that register as externals will be forced to have a minimum of six Wits players. The maximum number of players a team can register is 10-15,” says Mokgomole.
With teams that are internal, they can have a minimum of two Wits players. Clubs and societies as well as schools are also invited to participate in the league.

Wits fights back in Varsity Shield

by | Feb 12, 2016 | Sport

Tanisha Heiberg

KICKING SUCCESS: FNB Wits Fly half, Warren Gilberts, kicking for the posts during their second Varsity Shield game where his team dominated with a 53-0 win against FNB TUT. Photo: Provided by Catherine Kotze

KICKING SUCCESS: FNB Wits Fly half, Warren Gilberts, kicking for the posts during their second Varsity Shield game where his team dominated with a 53-0 win against FNB TUT. Photo: Provided by Catherine Kotze

FNB Wits beat FNB TUT by 53 points when they played their first home game this season in the Varsity Shield rugby match on Monday.

Enjoying home ground advantage, Wits were hoping to redeem themselves from not only their 26-18 defeat against UKZN last week Monday, but also their 2015 defeat against the same team in the varsity shield finals.

The rainy weather, which threatened to disrupt play, didn’t dampen the spirits as Thato Marubela scored the first try to put his team 5-0 up. Captain Conor Brocschmidt brought the score up five more points to bring his team back into double digits. Fly-half Warren Gilberts, who missed his first conversion, managed to add three extra points on his second attempt. Wits continued piling on the pressure with a try from Constant Beckerling and another successful conversion. The Wits defense held firm against a desperate and physical FNB TUT side, bringing the halftime score to 21-0 for the home team

In the second half continued in the same vein, with Scrum-half Ruan MacDonald scoring three consecutive tries and his teammate AJ van Blerk putting the final nail in the coffin when he converted a penalty try, ending the game with a whitewash final score to 53-0 for FNB Wits.

“They were more physical than I expected but I don’t think they were as tactically prepared as we were,” said Brocschmidt.

The Wits team managed to regroup from a disappointing loss lost week and improve on their backline to clinch not only a confidence boosting win, but also an excellent birthday present for their team captain. “It was quite a good birthday present,” said Brocschmidt.

Even with a slight break, the Wits team won’t lose sight of their target to improve on last season’s form, when they travel to the University of Fort Hare to play FNB UFH next Thursday at Davidson Rugby Stadium.

“Every opposition is a strong opposition but I think we are pretty confident … the boys will be hungry for more after this,” said Brocschmidt.

#FMF protestor tries for (wo)man of the match

by | Feb 10, 2016 | Featured 1, News, Sport

It was an interesting day on the soccer pitch on Tuesday night when a game between the Clever Boys and Kaizer Chiefs boasted an appearance by a #FEESMUSTFALL  protester.

 

It was more than soccer obstacles in the way for Bidvest Wits on Tuesday night when during their clash with Kaizer Chiefs, a Wits student protester holding #FEESMUSTFALL banner ran across the pitch.

The student, Busisiwe Catherine Seabe, ran in the 78th minute of the game across the pitch waving the #FEESMUSTFALL banner. She was stopped by a player and stadium security and taken to the Hillbrow Police station.

“I was charged apparently with contravening an act from 2010, I’m not sure what this act is and neither are my legal representatives,” said Seabe.

Seabe was released this morning and has been back on campus, “I’m waiting to appear at the Hillbrow court at 8:30am on Friday, I am waiting to be briefed by my legal team about this,” said Seabe.

According to Seabe, she and other FMF members went to match without the intention of protesting.

“We were just watching the game funny enough and everyone brought tickets to support the team,” Seabe told Wits Vuvuzela.

Seabe said that while watching the match, she was inspired to stage an unplanned protest on the pitch.

“Bidvest is a large part of the Wits community. If Bidvest can come on campus and ask students for support then surely the students can ask them for support when we are facing issues of accommodation, fees … The soccer industry generates millions in revenue,” Seabe said.

After dodging Campus Control on the pitch, Seabe was eventually stopped by new Clever Boy S’fiso Hlanti who didn’t seem too impressed with her actions. “He actually just asked me what am I doing? What was on the banner?’,” said Seabe.

In the footage of the incident, a member of the Bidvest management team is seen approaching the apprehended Seabe and pulling the banner from her, “I was hurt in the scuff of the pulling, my pants got torn but it’s fine,” Seabe said.

She adds that even despite having exited the pitch and some fans applauding, Bidvest staff members were still unimpressed, “It was a bit violent to a certain extent even when I was off the pitch, PSL management was very upset.”

But it seems no one is as upset as her mother who believes fee protesters have already made their point, “My mom is livid! She keeps telling me I must stop, the country gets it now.”

Join the club!

by | Feb 5, 2016 | Sport

There are a couple of clubs that are not as popular as Football or Basketball here at Wits. The following list is about some of these clubs.

Fun In the Sun!: Members of the Yacht Club sitting outside their yacht during O-Week. Photo: Michelle Gumede

Fun In the Sun!: Members of the Yacht Club sitting outside their yacht during O-Week. Photo: Michelle Gumede

With the long list of sports and recreational clubs at Wits, it can be pretty challenging to pick a sporting or recreational activity to participating in. We’ve got the scoop on clubs that don’t hectic waiting lists.

 

  1. The Yacht Club

If you have ever dreamed about sailing the seven seas, then this club may be for you. Established in 1972, the aim of the club is to teach its members how to sail. On average, it takes individuals about three to four 5-hour sessions for participants to learn how to sail. Subscription to the club is R400 per academic year and all you need, in the event that you do not own your own equipment, will be provided for you.

  1. The Underwater Club

Established in the 1960s, there are two sides to the club: scuba diving and underwater hockey. Scuba diving gives participants an opportunity to get accredited through the South African scuba diving instructors association for level one, CMAS-ISA at R1300 for the 2 to 3-week long course. All you need is a mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit. The rest of the equipment will be provided.  Get more information on their Facebook page: Wits Underwater Club.

  1. Futsal

Do you love football, but hate being outside? Futsal may be for you. One of the really lesser-known sports in the country, futsal is a short form of football, featuring, instead of 11 players in a team, 5 players. It is played on a plastic-like court, with a normal football pitch markings. To play, you need specialized court shoes that are available at sports shops. You can join the team for R100 per semester in order to play in a season. For more info, visit their Facebook page: Wits Futsal

  1. Badminton

Described as the fastest racquet sport on the planet, Badminton is an indoor sport that looks like tennis, but is like volleyball, with a different set of rules. The Wits Badminton club offers classes for people who have never played the sport before. Subscription is R300 to for half a year and R600 to play the full year. The club has been doing very well at various sporting competitions, being particularly successful at the University Sports South Africa 2015 tournament. If you’re looking to improve your hand-eye coordination, then Badminton is for you. You need your own racquet to play.  Facebook: Wits Badminton Club

  1. Orienteering

Voted Sports Club of the Year for 2015, the orienteering club is doing great things. The idea of the sport is to navigate using a map in the fastest time. The club’s subscription is R110 for the year and that gets you a R10 discount for every orienteering event you’re involved in. If map reading is not your strong point, that’s okay because the club is more than willing to teach you. All you need are comfortable walking shoes. Everything else, such as a hat, maps and electronics (for the navigating) are provided. For information visit: https://witsorienteering.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

Do Hunt’s clever boys have what it takes?

by | Sep 25, 2015 | Featured 1, Sport

POWER SHOT: The clever boy's Henrico Botes fires a shot towards goal after penetrating the relentless SuperSport defence. Photo: Reuven Blignault.

POWER SHOT: The clever boy’s Henrico Botes fires a shot towards goal after penetrating the relentless SuperSport defence. Photo: Reuven Blignault.

Since Gavin Hunt left SuperSport United to join Bidvest Wits three seasons ago, there has been talk that he will turn the Students into a title-contending club.

The last time the club won a trophy was the Nedbank Cup in 2010, when Roger De Sa was at the helm.

The team now finds themselves at third place on the PSL table and with a long season still ahead anything is possible.

This is what was at the back of the team’s mind on Tuesday night, when they hoped to record their third successive league victory when they hosted SuperSport United at the Bidvest Stadium.

The Clever Boys played the entire second-half with 10-men, but successfully held on to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Absa Premiership title rivals SuperSport.

Gavin Hunt’s side were in control of the match, and they looked dangerous each timed they surged forward and attacked the visitors.

Jabulani Shongwe scored the only goal of the game before Henrico Botes was sent off for foul play on the cusp of half-time.

Wits played without the suspended Siyabonga Nhlapo, while SuperSport’s Dean Furman also missed as he was still suspended after being sent off against Chiefs in the previous match.

Despite having one player less, the Clever Boys continued to create the better chances and were deserved winners on the night.

But will they go all the way?

Hunt has certainly added quality to his arsenal, spending top dollar on players Daine Klate and Elias Pelembe. Both players were part of Hunt’s SuperSport United outfit during his successful tenure at the club.

Veteran goalkeeper Moeneeb  ‘Slimkat’ Josephs may be key to any title challenge, as he has been in good form so far this season, and because the team lacks depth on the bench in the goal keeping department

The team also has star players Phakamani Mahlambi and Liam Jordan, who are both part of the national squad and are tipped to be among South African football’s brightest prospects. Veteran Henrico Botes, has always chipped in with important goals over the past few years.