Msomi guided UJ to their maiden Varsity Netball title after they defeated defending champions North-West Eagles 56-44 in the final in Mahikeng on Monday night.
For Msomi, the victory was about more than lifting the trophy. It marked the culmination of a journey that has seen UJ establish themselves among the competition’s leading teams after falling short in two previous finals.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Msomi reflected on the emotional significance of finally getting over the line.
“I’m really happy that we could pull it through this year. The group has been working really hard and this is a fantastic reward for them. We’ve been in the final twice, lost in extra time in both games, and that alone for me has been an incredible experience to be part of such a journey with UJ Netball.
“Literally from the bottom, to constantly being amongst the top teams means our programme is working. This gold is an assurance to the group that hard work does pay off. Sometimes what you say and do only makes sense after such wins.
“We deserved to close it off like this after all the plans and brave decisions we had to make during the season. We’ve made history. What a legacy! That’s the emotional part for me,” said Msomi.
The 38-year-old former Spar Proteas star has spent the past seven years building the UJ programme, with her role extending beyond the tactical side of the game.
For Msomi, netball provides an opportunity to give back and create opportunities for young athletes, making the success of her players particularly meaningful.
“Netball to me means so much more. It allows me to constantly feel like I am giving back, and that’s something I am passionate about. So when I feel that this part is fully covered, I get emotional easily.
“I know what being supported and being given a chance, a full chance, can do to an athlete’s career, and I see this almost every day at UJ Netball. It is such an amazing feeling to see it all play out this way!”
The triumph also brings to an end a chapter of near misses for UJ under Msomi. She previously guided the team to the Varsity Netball finals in 2023 and 2024, only to see their title hopes slip away after extra-time defeats.
This time, UJ produced a commanding performance against the defending champions, with Msomi proud of the way her players executed their game plan and utilised the depth within the squad.
“It was a great final! A great showcase of the amazing talent we have in the country. We had a plan and both halves of the game were meant to cover different aspects for us, and it really did.
“It was amazing to sit there and watch the plan come together like it did in the second half. Playing against the defending champions, who eliminated us in a semi-final last year, was always going to be hard.
“The team got stuck into the job incredibly well. The depth of our group this year is something I am really proud of. All the players played their part.”