UJ athletes ready for 2014 Commonwealth Games

While the Soccer World Cup in Brazil is grabbing people’s attention – the 2014 Common Wealth will be no different.

This year, nations will flock together at the Commonwealth Games which will be taking place in Glasgow in Scotland from 23 July until 3 August.

A number of athletes from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) will contribute to team South Africa’s medal tally, when eight of their students, club athletes and staff members head to the games as part of team South Africa.

Glasglow will be the stage for exciting sport, as well as a range of cultural and arts events which will be captivating the world’s attention.

The UJ’s A-list athletics team heading to the games, includes 25-year-old transport management student Zarck Visser who will be participating in the long-jump event.

Visser is currently ranked first in South Africa and Africa, second in the Commonwealth and sixth in the world.

He will be joined by transport management student Ruswahl Samaai, who comes second in the national rankings, fifth in the Commonwealth and ranked 15 worldwide.

Olympic silver medallist and UJ club member Godfrey Mokoena will also participate in full force. The triple jumper currently occupies the Number One spot nationally and Number Five in the Commonwealth rankings.

Emmarie Fouché, who is arguably one of the highest qualified jumps coaches in South Africa, will join them as the national jumps coach.

To add the cherry on top, 24-year-old chiropractic student Bernadette Coston, who has 100 caps for South Africa, making the women’s team, will also represent the country.

What would hockey be without finance student, Clinton Panther ?

Panther, who has just come back from the world cup in June, will also make a statement by implementing what he learned in Holland.

UJ Alumni and Springbok rugby star Bryan Habana, although still doubtful for the games, will take to the field as part of the Rugby Sevens team.