South Africa’s only university venue featuring three water-based astroturf pitches
As we gear up for the 2025 USSA Winter Championships, excitement is building across our Maties Sports departments. Between 27 June and 9 July, Maties will bring its full sporting strength, whether on our home astroturf or across the country in Gqeberha, Pretoria, or Johannesburg. Our squads aim to build on last years performances, celebrate fresh talent, and chase gold on every court.
Ahead of the teams’ departures, Maties Sport hosted a USSA sendoff function in Stellenbosch where Chief Director, Maties Sport Mrs Ilhaam Groenewald, highlighted the importance of Unity, Diversity, and Leadership as a winning formula, a powerful reminder that success is not accidental. Victory demands unity of vision, where all members work toward a common goal without divided agendas. It calls for Diversity in Skills, acknowledging that every player has a unique role, and that one-dimensional teams never win championships. Most importantly, it requires Leadership — not just from captains, but leadership teams developed by our coaches across the entire team.
With months of preparation, she is confident in the sport codes’ readiness. She further emphasised that the hard work is done, and now it’s time to compete, rise to our potential, and pursue victory together.
Stellenbosch University’s Acting Chief Operating Officer, Prof. Nicola Smit attended the Maties Sport USSA send-off, marking her first appearance at the event.
In her address, Prof Nicola expressed, “I have a huge admiration for our student-athletes, who consistently excel both on the field and in the lecture halls. Achieving national titles and academic success simultaneously, requires unwavering discipline, dedication, and exceptional time management skills. These qualities will undoubtedly serve you well in your future endeavours.”
“As you step onto the field, court, or pitch, remember your incredible journey and the support of your teammates, coaches, and Maties at Stellenbosch University. You’re not just competing; you’re representing them all”, Prof Nicola continued.
Hockey
Maties Hockey will welcome over 20 universities from across South Africa to compete in the 2025 USSA Hockey Championships. It marks the first time a single venue accommodates the A, B, and C sections, thanks to our newly completed third astroturf. Maties Sport is the only university in South Africa with three water-based astroturfs, which will field both men’s and women’s teams in Coetzenburg from 30 June to 4 July.
“There’s a fire in knowing we’re not just playing for medals; we’re playing right here, in front of our people, for our university. We feel the weight of it, but more importantly, we feel the pride”, says Aiden Tun, Maties hockey men’s captain.
Aiden describes this as an opportunity for Maties Hockey to demonstrate who they are—not only through their performance on the scoreboard, but also through their conduct, solidarity, and unwavering commitment to contest every ball.
We warmly invite the Stellenbosch community and neighbouring areas to attend in person and support South Africa’s most talented student hockey players as they compete. Entry is free, and a dedicated supporters’ tent will be available with entertainment and refreshments throughout the week.
Netball
From 30 June to 4 July 2025 in Gqeberha, our Maties Netball team will bring energy under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Sasha-Lee Petersen, and Jo Prins as her assistant coach.
Sasha‑Lee, a former Maties netball player who represented Stellenbosch University at multiple USSA Championships, brings firsthand experience navigating the demands of being a student‑athlete.
“Beyond the thrills of the court, I recently completed my Master’s degree in Sport Science at Stellenbosch University, and this journey, weaving together my passion for sport and my dedication to academics, is something I carry with deep pride. To now return and lead the very club that helped shape me, that instilled so much of what I value, is both humbling and incredibly rewarding,” said Petersen.
Rugby
Our men’s 15s team continues their reign, pursuing a fourth consecutive USSA gold, steered by head coach Kabamba Floors and assistant Craig Barry. With a dynamic Maties rugby team, they are hard at work. The Maties women’s rugby team secured a bronze medal at the 2024 USSA Rugby 10s tournament. This year, they will also be competing in the 15s format. Even more impressively, newly appointed head coach Aneesah Abrahams led her team to victory earlier this year, winning their second FNB Women’s Varsity Cup title in just three seasons. The upcoming rugby action is set to take place at UP Tuks from 30 June to 4 July 2025.
Volleyball & Basketball
The volleyball team will be led by Antonio and Tersia Rossouw, respectively, bringing their national-level experience to the squad. It will be the team’s first major indoor volleyball competition in some time, and fans are excited to cheer them on at the University of Cape Town from 30 June 2025 onwards. The Maties men’s and women’s teams will compete in 3×3 basketball championships at Wits University in Johannesburg from July 4 to 9, 2025.
Squash & Badminton
Last year, the Maties squash teams made a significant impact. The A team secured a bronze medal in Section A, while the B team advanced to the final and earned a silver medal. In badminton, Maties excelled in the team event, collecting silver in a tightly contested final match against NWU Potch.
We look forward to another strong performance in 2025. Squash will take place at Nelson Mandela University, while badminton will take place at UP Tuks.
By Jamie Wyngaardt