Blue and Gold Issue 6

THE OFFICIAL UWC SPORTS MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 2021

60

FOR 60

Honouring our sporting heroes

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE The Operation Room gets an upgrade

M A I D N E G E L s ’ u e r T l Pau g n i n n i w award mes ethos co to UWC

THE BIG LEAGUES Udubs’ athletes reach their dreams

BLUE AND GOLD

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

By Mandla Gagayi, Director, UWC Sport Administration

I

t is almost one year to the day since we left our campus to work and study from home due to the COVID-19 Level 5 lockdown. This was a very challenging situation for everyone, especially our students.

The transition from traditional face-to-face lectures to online platforms – where many had no laptops, data or even network coverage – must have felt like a nightmare or a scene from a Stephen King novel. However, I was impressed by the way my colleagues and student-athletes made the best of a bad situation without looking for excuses to neglect their commitments.

On a personal level, the lockdown brought me closer to my family. I enjoyed the time we spent together, especially given that my work often involves lots of travelling. Being together for a long time forced us to be open and honest about our feelings, as well as share our thoughts and views about our lives and the future. We also learnt gratitude for the things we have in life: Mr and Mrs G did not lose their jobs and the Little Gs continued their schooling online – small comforts that many others did not, or still do not, have. We have come to a

new appreciation of how short life can be, especially when death struck close to home as colleagues, relatives and others we knew succumbed to the coronavirus.

I must confess that, for me, one of the best things that came out of lockdown was the chance to get familiar with technology. I never knew all the things that could be done on all these different communication platforms!

At UWC Sport, we used the “quiet” time to reflect on our strategies and make changes where necessary. We also used that time to attend as many online conferences as possible to ensure our return to campus was empowered with new ideas and approaches to deliver the business of sport.

The time was opportune for our facilities to be attended to as well. As such, construction on the following facilities began late in 2020 and is currently still underway: the resurfacing of the athletics track, levelling and top dressing of the main field, upgrades to the VOC and VIP lounges, as well as the establishment of a computer lab for student-athletes. None of these projects would have been possible had sporting

activities still been underway.

That said, I am happy that, thus far, the following sports federations have given the green light for our teams to resume training: Western Province Rugby Union, Western Province Cricket and the South African Football Association (SAFA). As such, our rugby team has been busy with the preseason for Varsity Cup since November last year, the cricket department has been training and even had two friendlies in December, and women’s football is about to start with their preseason for the SAFA National Women’s League.

These developments represent the hope and belief that things are getting better. All we need to do is to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols and take responsibility for our future and those around us. Things will definitely never be the same post-pandemic but we have to take lessons from this situation and move on. Sport will be back bigger and better, and Udubs’ student-athletes will continue to shine with the full backing of UWC Sport.

Until then, let us all stay safe. #WeAreUWCSport

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT ACTING DIRECTOR Gasant Abarder • UWC SPORT DIRECTOR Mandla Gagayi • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nashira Davids • EDITOR Myolisi Gophe • MANAGING EDITOR Nastasha Crow • ART DIRECTOR Michel van Rijmenant • COPY EDITOR Zainab Slemang van Rijmenant • CONTRIBUTORS Buntu Gotywa, Fabio De Dominicis, Lyndon Julius, Lynne Rippenaar-Moses, Melissa Siegelaar, Peter Herring, Riaan Salie, Robin Adams, Sikhulule Nkomphela

2

CONTENTS 2

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

4

WORDS FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

6

DVC’S CORNER

8

HOMECOMING KING

12

RESHAPING THE CONVERSATION ON CHANGE

14

HALL OF FAME

16

TOP OF HER GAME

18

A NEW DAWN

20

ONE SIZE (DOESN’T) FIT ALL

22

A SPORTING CHANCE

24

SENTILE’S DREAM

26

UDUBS SPORT ON THE UP AND UP

SPORTS COUNCIL NOTES X-Nita Jade Stuurman, UWC Sports Council 2021

M

ay 2021 be kind to us all.

It’s another year to start afresh or pick up where we left off and move towards new or ongoing goals. I’d personally like to wish each and every person all of the best, as well as a huge congratulations to the 2021 first-years – may you make life-long memories and friendships at UWC. As we look back on the year that was 2020, we must reflect

on the many challenges we endured, especially remote learning and not being able to do any sporting activities.

I hope that in 2021, we will take the lessons learnt last year and work hard, manage our time and find a balance to ensure our mental and physical health. As we slowly return to campus, keep in mind that everyone’s life journey is different but, in the end, you will reap the rewards you’ve sown.

Our student-athlete computer lab project is in motion and doing well, so on your return to campus, drop by to see its progress.

Remember to stay safe, always wear your mask and maintain adequate social distance. We’ve lost so many lives in 2020, so in order to protect yourself and others, keep following these simple steps.

And don’t forget to support our Bushies very soon, too!

16

Contributing writer: Robin Adams A seasoned journalist, Robin Adams has worn many hats in a professional career that began in 1998. From his time as a news reporter and photographer to being a radio presenter, a TV sports anchor and international correspondent – he’s done it all, including working for major networks such as Al Jazeera and TRT World. Although he completed his schooling in Atlantis and his journalism course at Peninsula Technikon, he admits he spent a fair amount of time in the UWC cafeteria. “The klawerjas (card game) was just so much better here,” he jokes. Having recently returned to Cape Town, he hopes to rekindle his love affair with the city by telling great stories with people at the heart of each tale.

3

BLUE AND GOLD

WORDS FROM THE VICECHANCELLOR Prof Tyrone Pretorius Rector and Vice-Chancellor, University of the Western Cape

“B

eing kind” should be the player of the match right now.

As sports fans were being starved of live-action events because of global lockdowns, it was not only COVID-19 that was wreaking havoc. The other menace was a man-made scourge that both had a cure and was completely preventable. Yet, it has become so pervasive in the world of sport.

Despite the empty stands and the distance between spectators and elite athletes, certain individuals who claim to be fans became emboldened. What was once a screaming-abuse fan in the stands has given way to the keyboard troll who can now directly tag the social media accounts of an athlete and abuse him or her directly. And racism is never far behind.

Place yourself in the shoes of a modern athlete in the midst of a global pandemic and the mental fortitude required to survive. In a football league setting, there are at least three matches a week. You can’t go out socially for fear that you break the bio-bubble and infect your teammates. Worse still, your family has to make sacrifices and self-isolate, too. You drink, eat, sleep and play football – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You get into your car after a

4

tough match where the result didn’t go your way. You gave away a penalty that led to the opposition winning the game.

You check your phone and there's a slew of social media mentions dripping with abuse.

And they're all directed at you.

Sporting federations have put measures in place to counter this kind of abuse, but there is an argument to be made that these measures are the equivalent to taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement or a “No to Racism” slogan on a shirt sleeve. The sporting bodies have lobbied social media networks and law enforcement authorities to take harsher action to stop enabling racists.

The majority of sport-loving people are not bigots and racists.

And it is these people – us – that need to find our voices to speak against the abuse of our athletes, especially now when they need our support the most. These modern-day gladiators are, in fact, risking their lives to keep us entertained. Their efforts should be praised and not be the subject of abuse.

Here at UWC, we do not tolerate the abuse of our sports men and women. Competitions will open again in the coming months in the bio-bubbles that allow our athletes to participate

in sport under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. We wish our athletes well and hope they know we are proud of them no matter the outcome of a match.

Our student-athletes know that sport is but a small part of life at the University. We offer them the best of both the academic and sporting worlds in our quest to produce graduates who have a sense of history, are sensitive to social justice and are grounded in community.

As we navigate these troubled times, I call on all students and staff to remember their duty of care. Care for your fellow students, your colleagues and – most importantly – yourself.

Let us all remember the farreaching impact of the simple yet profound act of kindness, and how it can be the antidote to the impacts of this global pandemic.

Let us use sport to both buttress kindness and to combat racism and abuse instead of bolstering these behaviours. Let us not forget the words of the father of our nation, uTata Nelson Mandela, who said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.

Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages is a proud supporter of UWC Sport

DVC’S CORNER Prof Pamela Dube, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development & Support, University of the Western Cape

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore— And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

T

his poem, titled ‘Harlem’ and scripted by the poet Langston Hughes, helps

6

us locate the intersection between the transformation of society and its relationship with higher education, and the expectations and tensions that give rise to this very complex relationship. Drawing from the seminal work by Hughes, it is critical to pose the question, What time is it now?

Many sectors of society continue to suffer as a result of the devastating effects of COVID-19. This reality has redefined lives and there is a growing sense of anxiety and despair as South Africans lose jobs, which adversely affects quality of life. We are on a

different rhythm as we grapple with the reality of a pandemic whose influence has captured the attention of the world, the effects of which are particularly dire to citizens of poor nations and societies.

Among other priorities for higher education is the state of students’ mental health as a result of myriad challenges affecting their proper functioning. The introduction of online learning, despite the support provided, is a new addition to the way students need to manage their time, and a reality they must adjust to.

This experience will be useful in guiding institutional efforts to support first-years who will be part of a university community for the first time in their lives. The vast majority of them will show different interests, such as playing a sport, forming part of the debate society and taking part in a wide range of exciting co-curricular programmes. Our responsibility is to encourage them to be hopeful about their time at UWC and, at this time, our collective strength and the ability to withstand adversity should serve as an inspiration as we take the road less travelled.

The word “endurance” is very common amongst athletes as they must work hard to triumph, to become champions, and to sustain their performances and enter the echelons of legends.

And, just like sport, universities are spaces of opportunity where disadvantaged yet talented students can find the will to succeed. This is one of the most important values at UWC and we are proud of how students

BLUE AND GOLD

have taken these opportunities and summoned their energy to change their lives and that of their families for the better. Thus, promoting inclusive sport where every athlete is judged on the strength of his or her talent remains a key societal priority and must be pursued with vigour and without fear.

Clearly, there is something dramatic and profound about where in time we are and how we respond to it; mankind is being called upon to display extraordinary strength and courage. The pandemic is a subject of inquiry that can, on no account, be neglected or taken for granted. We are reminded about this when we read the devastating news of the passing away of colleagues and family members who have succumbed to the virus. From the available information, the impact has not been felt the same way among students and we need to work

together to keep the situation under control.

At UWC, as at other universities across the country, all our sporting codes were suspended as we endured the initial challenges of COVID-19. This ongoing reality compels us to change the way we relate to the present circumstances and prepare for the future, disregarding the things that make us comfortable and content.

Last year, for the first time, the Sport Awards had to shift to a virtual platform, with the event honouring women and men who, in the last 60 years, have made a seminal contribution to sport. And even though our sporting fields may have abnormally grown grass and our passionate students and staff members may be deprived of live sports, we will come out stronger than before.

Even during this so-called “new normal” period, our sports men and women became innovative, organising online training

sessions in order to stay motivated in a way I have never experienced before. That, to me, shows character and an eagerness to keep healthy and in good shape so that when they are allowed to take to the fields once more, they will be ready. We also welcome with great delight the call made by most sporting codes to resume training, led by Varsity Cup Rugby.

I therefore call upon the entire UWC community to be strong; the time to cheer for and rally behind our athletes is near.

Let us all continue to adhere to and follow the COVID-19 safety regulations to prevent the spread of the virus. This is business unusual and it calls for novel ideas and solutions. We have a collective responsibility to contribute to making the dreams of students and athletes possible and I hope the motto of the Student Development & Support department, “Creating your future”, serves as inspiration.

7

HOMECOMING KING

Having honed his skills – on and off the field – at UWC before a trophy-laden career, Paul Treu has come “home”, eager to teach the art of success

By Robin Adams | Photography: Peter Herring

8

BLUE AND GOLD

C

rouch. Touch. Paul. Engage.

Words, tweaked ever so slightly, that are synonymous with rugby. And there’s a name in there that is also inextricably linked with the sport.

Paul Treu is a rugby giant. He is a genius. Some of us, who have been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to the master at work, can easily bear testimony to that fact. Whether it’s training sessions or championship deciders, they are approached with the same precision and meticulous attention to detail.

Treu is all about “executing the game plan”.

Respected, appreciated and adored the world over, the man from Swellendam has had a truly remarkable journey. And it has the University of the Western Cape right at the heart of it.

For those unfamiliar with his

accomplishments, here’s a little refresher: 1990 - 1993: UWC Player 1996 - 2001: SWD Eagles Player 1999: Stormers Player 1999 - 2003: Springbok Sevens Player 2000: Northern Bulls Player 2002 - 2003: Mighty Elephants Player 2004 - 2013: S pringbok Sevens Coach 2013 - 2014: Kenya Sevens Coach 2014: Assistant Coach, Western Province 2019: Western Province Performance and Innovation Manager 2020 - present: UWC Rugby Head Coach Paul Treu has travelled to more countries and burned through

THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES, AND FOR THEM TO TASTE SUCCESS

more passports than you and I could dream of. And Robert Sobukwe Road is the one stop on his journey to stardom he is most proud of.

The 49-year-old’s adventure from player to celebrated coach is the stuff of legend. And his return to the UWC campus as head coach of its rugby team was nearly 30 years in the making. “I was looking for a different challenge. I thought to myself, I played here [at UWC], the team didn’t do so well in the Varsity Cup competition and I haven’t been a head coach in 15s rugby yet. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, and for them to taste success,” he says.

Talk about coming full circle.

UWC was Treu’s springboard into the Springbok Sevens team as a player, and he eventually became captain of the squad.

He says his most memorable moment with the team was winning the Wellington Sevens title for the first time in 2001 under coach Chester Williams, a star remembered for his World Cup success with the Springboks in 1995. Williams’ passing in 2019 plunged the rugby world into deep sadness. And it left the University with the unenviable task of finding a suitable replacement. It had to be someone who not only shared the institution’s values but epitomised its motto – “Respice, Prospice”, to look back, to look forward, to take

9

what is worthy from the past and build the future.

It wasn’t a rushed job, either.

It took nearly a year to find the perfect candidate. Paul Treu was announced as UWC head coach in August 2020; the rugby gods could not have scripted this one better.

The team is still recovering from a disappointing Varsity Cup campaign last year, but that hasn’t dampened Treu’s optimism. “I must say, the University has really come to the party. All the things I have requested; they really have gone out of their way to make sure that we could put together a support team and the equipment, systems and processes to give the players the best opportunity to do well,” he says. “It’s the first time

10

we’re training with GPS [technology]. We’re recording our practice sessions and we have bought analysis software.

It’s about building sustainability.

We’ve achieved a lot over the last couple of months.”

Yet, every superhero needs a team of trusty sidekicks. At home, it’s Treu’s wife, Jodie, and their daughters, Schyler and Carlin. At work, it’s an army of stars: sports administrator Clement Trout; Niekie Vijoen, who perfects the lineouts; Lionel Langenhoven, who briefly occupied the position of acting head coach before Treu’s appointment; forwards coach Richard Petersen, whose mission is to attack, attack, attack; UWC women’s rugby coach Aneesha Adams, who also films the men’s

training sessions for analysis; head physio Wernich Smith; physiotherapist Robyn Phillips, who can be heard summoning players with what’s become her tagline, “It’s time for your rehab!”; sport scientist Jenna Bam, who carefully monitors each player’s performance levels; Keenan Watson, whose core responsibility is gym conditioning; biokineticists Alice Hlungwani and Kirsten Huckle; Lubabalo Felani, who takes care of the athletes’ onfield conditioning; Dr Byron Haupt, who proudly wears the mantle of sport physician; and Nicolas Kock, the chairman, who Treu says is using his foundation to fund a lot of their initiatives.

“He is moving mountains to get us what we need, from nutrition

BLUE AND GOLD PAUL TREU HIGHER-LEARNING QUALIFICATIONS • Masters Degree in Sports Directorship, Manchester Metropolitan University • Masters in Educational Psychology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University • Honours in Education, Stellenbosch University • Higher Diploma in Education, University of the Western Cape

to equipment.”

The team faces two potentially tricky assignments in March: training matches with Stellenbosch Maties and UCT Ikeys before the

Varsity Cup kicks off in April.

“Our immediate goal is to stay within the Varsity Cup. This was supposed to be a relegation year but with COVID-19, it’s going to be over two years. So the points accumulated this year and next year will determine who will be relegated.”

Last year, UWC finished second from the bottom. “This year, we want to finish as high as we can,” Treu says determinedly.

Treu’s experience with building teams into successful units, and his exceptional eye for spotting talent, can only benefit the current batch of UWC players who have dreams of one day running onto the field as Springboks. And watching from the sidelines of

a training session, the team already looks to be running like a welloiled machine. Treu isn’t one for flashy motivational talks, either, be it at practice or on matchday. “The team talk is always the same.

Whether you’re ahead, you always stick to your processes.

And that’s all that you can say to the guys. Because they’ve been there before. They’ve done the training; they know the drill.

They just need to keep doing what they do.

“On game day, the players need to take charge; they need to take control. If the opportunity to win is there for the taking, we take it. Just keep the faith and keep believing.”

He also says he doesn’t have any pre-match rituals but always ensures he sets aside a couple of minutes for “quiet time to get into the right frame of mind”.

Of course, we’d never encourage underhanded behaviour, but if you wanted to get into the coach’s good books, a cappuccino would be a decent start. “Coffee normally gets me into the zone. A cappuccino. If it’s not a cappuccino, it’s a flat white.”

For a man who’s worn so many hats in his rugby career (he still consults for the Japan Women’s Rugby team in the lead-up to this year’s rescheduled Olympic Games), it looks like Treu has found just the right fit at UWC. As a former student, it was only right we ask him the unfair questions, too, such as if he could add one dish to the UWC cafeteria menu, what would it be?

“My wife’s mac and cheese,” he says without hesitation.

It’s true, Treu is the real deal.

Superpowers aside, there’s one chink in the armour — one that will make us all believe he is human after all: He’s no braai master. “I burn the meat every time; I just don’t have the patience.”

That said, a word of caution to opponents who think Treu’s lack of braai skills is his Achilles’ heel: even Superman had kryptonite.

11

RESHAPING THE CONVERSATION ON CHANGE

Sports transformation is still a long way off in South Africa, say panellists at the UWC Sport Webinar

By Lynne Rippenaar-Moses & Riaan Salie Photography: Peter Herring

W

hile South African sporting codes have been slow to transform, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has led transformation through sport for years. However, even with UWC’s contribution to developing and producing top sports men and women for South Africa, the playing fields are still not level.

This was the consensus at the 2020 UWC Sport Webinar, hosted by eNCA sport journalist Ronald Masinda, who said that 10 years after the government introduced the Transformation Charter for South African Sport in 2011, transformation in sport is nowhere near where it should be. The charter compels national teams and sports associations and federations to become intentional about transforming their teams, management and support staff or face the consequences of non-compliance.

Masinda opened the webinar by reminding attendees of the late former President Nelson Mandela’s strong belief in the ability of sport to unify South Africans. It was this belief that led to Mandela publicly supporting and encouraging South Africans of all races to embrace and rally behind a yet untransformed

12

UWC Head Rugby Coach Paul Treu was amongst the panellists who joined the webinar

South African Springbok team competing in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The team went on to beat the All Blacks, raising the Webb Ellis Cup with Mandela by their side.

Today, other equality issues also hinder transformation. For panellist Babalwa Latsha, the first black female professional

rugby player in South Africa, forging a career in a maledominated sport has been no easy feat. “To be the first in anything is quite daunting because now the responsibility lies on me to set the standard for anyone who comes after me and does the same,” said Latsha. Having taken rugby at UWC as a first-year student, she

BLUE AND GOLD

OUR POINT OF DEPARTURE SHOULD BE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE BORN EQUAL credited the support she received from fellow female athletes and the wider UWC community with helping her develop the steely determination she required to thrive as a female rugby player.

For Thembi Kgatlana, a professional football player, transformation means creating a platform where disadvantaged students can perform at the same level and have access to the same resources as students who started with more advantages at their disposal. Disadvantaged students who want to become athletes, said Kgatlana, seldom have access to the type of diet that is required to maintain a specific level of physical fitness.

Nor do they have access to private coaches and off-campus high-performance training opportunities that can help them perform at their optimum.

“Disadvantaged individuals are not always aware of what’s needed for professional sports. We just go out in the streets and play sports how we see it,” she said.

According to panellist Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director of

eNCA sport journalist Ronald Masinda hosted the 2020 UWC Sport Webinar

Maties Sport since 2014 and former sport director at UWC, the transformation of the sporting landscape in South Africa is taking far too long.

“I am particularly concerned that the number of athletes at university sport level is dwindling,” she said. “And this is happening because schools no longer prioritise sport, so are therefore not producing athletes.”

While university sport is a catalyst for transformation, Groenewald also believes that more remains to be done to ensure sporting codes are inclusive and receptive to female athletes.

Moral and strategic obligations are the most compelling reasons for transformation, added panellist Mandla Gagayi, the current Director for UWC Sport.

For Gagayi, transformation starts in the home and upbringing plays a big role in determining whether we can transform or not.

“An enabling environment has not been created for true transformation to take place.

One cannot expect athletes to be on the same level if some do not even have training facilities in their communities.

“Our point of departure on the topic of transformation should be that all people are born equal.”

Like Groenewald, Gagayi also touched on the impact that the disintegration of sport at school level has had on university sport.

With the culture of sport eroded at government schools, it has become difficult for university sport coaches to motivate for meaningful sport development

programmes at these and other schools in disadvantage areas.

Paul Treu, Head Rugby Coach at UWC and another panellist, said that while many reports and policies on transformation exist, there is still a lack of strategic imperative for equal opportunities amongst sports men and women across South Africa. “There are so many talented athletes in these communities, yet so few people of colour progress from provincial sport to national sport levels, and even less appear on our national sport teams.

“This shows a lack of strategic planning in the advancement of transformation in sport,” he added.

“To pursue transformation, our provincial and national teams need strong leaders willing to stand up to corporate sponsors who often try influencing the dynamics in sport teams.

Transformation is a process that requires commitment from sport management, athletes and the government. Our country should pursue a transformative experience within sport,” finished Groenewald, sparking debate for a conscious move towards meaningful transformation.

Professional footballer and UWC alumnus Thembi Kgatlana also added her voice to the conversation

13

HALL OF FAME

UWC’s annual Sport Awards honours 60 for 60

By Myolisi Gophe

I

t was an awards ceremony with a difference as UWC Sport named 60 “outstanding athletes” who made significant contributions to the local, national and global sporting front over the last 60 years.

In line with the University of the Western Cape’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, the 2020 UWC Sport Awards were held digitally on 30 October and celebrated the achievements of 60 current and former athletes, coaches, scientists and administrators who have raised the University flag high in the last six decades. Despite its unique format, Professor Pamela Dube, Deputy Vice-Chancellor

14

for Student Development and Support (SDS), assured all attendees that the move in no way disregarded the contribution of thousands of others who were not honoured as part of the 60 award recipients.

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius opened the ceremony by acknowledging the tremendous distinction brought through a combination of the honourees’ career achievements, societal engagements, as well as contributions to a range of sporting codes. The honourees, he said, have raised the bar high and set standards for many years to come.

Professor Pretorius went on to say that UWC’s history is a proud story of transformation, closely associated with the imperatives of building a humane, well-adjusted and educated society to hold its place in a modern world. “Despite the impact of the apartheid heritage on our individual and institutional development, we have done remarkably well to overcome adversity and to build a proud track record of academic excellence, as well as a rich sporting tradition that has characterised the University since its inception.

“Decades later, we are called upon to hold the same values

BLUE AND GOLD and principles of equity and integrity to address lingering issues of intolerance and discrimination,” he added.

In his address, Prof Pretorius said great universities were defined by the achievements of their people – students, alumni and staff – and sport, among other factors, is an essential measure of personal and institutional success. “On behalf of the more than 25 000 students and staff, and scores of alumni and friends, we acknowledge your exceptional public leadership roles through sport. Through your passion, your commitment, and your contribution to sport, on and off the field, you have not only helped to increase our sense of ourselves but also helped to sustain the University’s critical engagement with communities and societies at large. We are truly inspired by each of your individual stories.”

Looking forward, the University continues to be inspired by the exciting possibilities of sport as an intellectual, social and infrastructural investment. “Over the next period, we intend to make full academic use of access between sport science and the sporting performances of our athletes. This will help sharpen our focus on high-performance sport and the evidence-based development of coaches and athletes in key sporting codes, particularly in under-resourced communities,” he said, adding that UWC had done well to attract a critical mass of student-athletes, administrators and highly experienced coaches.

Additionally, UWC has invested significantly in the upgrade of its Sport Stadium and has acquired additional land on the Belhar side of the campus to extend both its residential and sporting footprint.

“The further upgrade of our athletics track, the repair of our Olympic-sized heated indoor pool and the installation of a fully-functioning gym equipped for systematic data collection, will greatly position UWC as a sporting and sport science destination.”

THE HONOUREES HAVE RAISED THE BAR HIGH AND SET STANDARDS FOR YEARS TO COME THE 2020 UWC SPORT AWARDS RECIPIENTS COACHES Athletics William Legolie Football David Notoane Dr Lwando Mdleleni Nathan Peskin Hockey Gary Dolley Karate Trevor Fredericks Rugby The late Chester Williams Deon Davids The late Jeffrey Stevens Swimming Eric Harley Triathlon Libby Burrell ADMINISTRATORS Andile Ndevu Clive Killian Danny Jordaan Edwin Wyngaard Gary Boshoff Gustav Jacobs Ilhaam Groenewald The late Landile Kasibe Luthando Zibeko Dr Lyndon Bouah Former Minister Ngconde Balfour Adv Nicolas Kock Songezo Nayo Theseus Constance Tobias Titus Tony Loubser Prof Tyrone Pretorius ATHLETES Athletics

Bobang Phiri Donovon Wright Geraldine Pillay Jantjie Marthinus Melody Marcus Boxing Adv Lwandiso Kwababana Sinethemba Blom Cricket Zubayr Hamza Football Thembi Kgatlana Leandra Smeda Netball Jaumbuaije Zauana Rugby Babalwa Latsha Herschel Jantjies Kurt-Lee Arendse Laurian Johannes-Haupt Nosipho Poswa Swimming Derick Orderson Squash Andrew Wrankmore Volleyball Bejancke Della Grant Goldschmidt Leigh-Ann Naidoo Leo Williams SPECIAL RECOGNITION Benni Pretorius Dr Fred Robertson The late Dr Ingrid Muller Prof Judith Cornelissen Khaya Magopeni Dr Llewellyn McMaster Prof Marion Keim Patricia Lawrence Rene Naylor The late Roger Adams

15

TOP OF HER GAME

A natural talent and the will to succeed led former UWC footballer Sinoxolo Cesane to follow in the footsteps of her football heroes

By Buntu Gotywa

O

ff the field, a big smile and a willingness to chat about any subject under the sun is what defines Sinoxolo Cesane.

Her welcoming disposition and ability to spread positivity to those around her is something that comes naturally.

Yet, those qualities are quickly swept aside when she laces up

16

her boots and takes to the football pitch. Her competitive on-field nature and desire to strive for only the best is something to marvel at – and is what sets her apart from her peers. She is as fierce as they come and her rise to stardom is no surprise to those who have been following her football journey. More than just

a natural flair for diski, she possesses a strong mentality that plays a significant role in the continued development of her game.

And it’s this mentality that scored her a full athletic scholarship with East Tennessee State University women’s soccer in the United States. The former UWC midfielder is now one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional football player, having already played for Cape Town Roses alongside her twin sister Noxolo, who donned the Banyana Banyana jersey during the 2019 Cosafa Women’s Championship.

The 20-year-old has yet to decide on her academic pursuit, but says it will definitely be in the field of medicine. This makes sense considering women’s football is still far away from reaching the same professional level as the men’s game – at least when it comes to earning a living.

“I started my career with my sister at Roses and, although we were playing older ladies, we were never shaken because we always believed in our abilities. I then went on to join UWC, which brought about the opportunity that I have now. It was a step I had to take in order to move my career forward,” she says.

With players such as Thembi Kgatlana – who now plays for Spanish Primera División club SD Eibar – having plied their trade at UWC, it’s easy to see why playing

BLUE AND GOLD for the University was another leap towards professional football for Cesane. Udubs was one of 12 sides that played in the inaugural National Women’s League, which presented Cesane with the chance to go up against some of South Africa’s top talents.

“I enjoyed my time playing for the University as we were able to play all the top sides throughout the season,” Cesane reminisces.

“The transition to the side was also easy because I knew most of the players from before, so I fit in quite well. The level of competition was also higher and that helped with boosting my profile.”

And just as she had imagined, the scholarship offer arrived during her spell with UWC after videos of her playing were spotted online. “What makes it even more exciting is that I can also study, not just play football.

There were other offers but this was the best one, especially knowing there were other players who spoke highly of the coaches at East Tennessee.

“Ode Fulutudilu and Jermaine Seoposenwe are some of the players who have worked with the same coach (Jay Yelton), so it made my choice a lot easier.”

Preparing to move abroad presented its own challenges, specifically with funds for travel looking to derail the opportunity.

However, through the goodwill of her team, community and the public at large – who chipped in with donations – the funds for her flight were raised and she has since settled in at her new home.

On starting a new chapter in her life without her family by her side, Cesane says what keeps her going is knowing she can always count on their support no matter how far apart they are. “My sister and I had always spent a lot of time apart during the national team call-ups as she would be away for weeks, so I don’t think being homesick is something that will affect me too much.”

With her dream becoming a reality, she wishes the same for other dreamers, advising that they should hold steadfast in aiming for the stars. “There is no turning back for me now. There may be challenges along the way, but I’m prepared. No barriers will

I ENJOYED MY TIME PLAYING FOR THE UNIVERSITY AS WE WERE ABLE TO PLAY ALL THE TOP SIDES

stop me from the goals I’ve set for myself, and that is what I’d like to see for other young footballers in South Africa.

“The successful careers of footballers such as Ode, Thembi, Jermaine and Noko Matlou is something I’d like to emulate. I know that talent alone is not enough; there’s always that extra effort required in order to achieve such lofty goals,” she concludes.

17

A NEW DAWN

T

here are a few milestones that every South African tertiary institution prides itself on – one of which is to host professional and international sporting events. The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is but a few months away from achieving this amazing feat. An upgrade to the pitch and athletics track, to meet the standards of World Athletics (previously known as the International Association of Athletics Federations) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL), will allow the Bellville-based campus to host matches from either tier of professional South African football.

These upgrades and notable changes – to what is affectionately known as the Operation Room – will not only bring professional athletes to UWC but also benefit the country’s sports federations.

Director of Sport at UWC, Mandla Gagayi, is in high spirits – and rightfully so. After all, UWC has always been at the forefront of ground-breaking feats, especially

18

in sport. “It has always been part of our strategy to upgrade our facilities to standards that will allow us to attract top studentathletes while also generating income through rental to different sports federations,” Gagayi says, excited to speak of the great benefits the upgrade will have for both the University and sport across the Western Cape.

“We have always factored upgrades in our plans and requests to the University, and we are fortunate to have leadership that understands and appreciates the value of sport. The main field is being laser-levelled to the PSL standard so that we are able to host PSL and GladAfrica matches. And the athletics track is getting a new surface, including electronic timing, new long and triple jump, and pole vault and high jump areas, to get it to World Athletics standards so the University will also be able to host Athletics South Africa (ASA) national events.”

Advocate Nicolas Kock, an experienced sports administrator, chairperson of the UWC Rugby Football Club and a UWC lecturer with a 20-year tenure behind him, believes the facelift of the playing surface has come at the right time and that it will provide UWC with the muchneeded momentum to maintain its excellent results in the sporting arena, both on and off the field.

“The growth in student numbers, the recent drought and the creation of a high-profile competition have put our facilities under a lot of duress,” he says.

“If we are to compete as an institution on the national stage, we need to provide top-quality facilities for our students. The current upgrade is a massive step in the right direction and, hopefully, we will be able to continue with this positive momentum.”

The improvements and upgrades to the gym will bode well for the rugby club in their

BLUE AND GOLD

With sporting codes returning to the fields once more, the University’s upgrades to its sporting facilities will be a celebratory welcome for athletes

By Lyndon Julius | Photography: Peter Herring

efforts to attract the best players during their recruitment drives, according to Adv Kock. This will also allow UWC to be viewed as equal competitors, especially during the FNB Varsity Cup with the two other Western Cape universities in the competition, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University.

“The upgrade to the field and high-performance gymnasium is a clear signal from our university that we intend to compete with the best out there. This is a very important message when we recruit prospective studentathletes and definitely makes our jobs easier.”

With the upgrades to the sport facilities expected to be completed in the second half of the year, it will add another element to the already very feathery cap worn

by UWC, many of which were achieved during the time Gagayi has held his current position, which he took on in early 2015.

In the same year, the Varsity Football side won the competition

and UWC has since also been promoted to the FNB Varsity Cup. In addition, the UWC track and field athletes are regular podium finishers at University Sports South Africa (USSA) and Varsity Athletics events, and the University has a successful volleyball programme which was dominant at Varsity Sports beach volleyball tournaments.

This is not to say there are no contingency plans in place should the work to the sport facilities not be wrapped up on schedule. “If [late completion of playing surface upgrades] happens, which I doubt it will, we can always access external facilities for training as we currently do during the upgrades,” says Gagayi.

Along with these historic renovations to the UWC Sport Stadium, Gagayi highlights a few of the University’s longer-term goals. These are all partnerships that the UWC Sport department wish to establish to allow students access to world-class facilities

and resources to perform their best. “Our leadership is also engaging the City of Cape Town Municipality to get the Belhar Indoor Sports Centre on a lease so our indoor sports, such as basketball, netball and volleyball teams, can have access to a training and competition venue.

We further plan to raise funds to install a hockey astroturf on campus as our teams currently rely on municipal and local schools’ facilities.”

Expressing his excitement for the unveiling of the renovations, Adv Kock – much like most UWC students and supporters – looks forward to seeing a packed Operation Room in support of those donning the blue and gold.

“Just seeing the upgrade of the facility unfolding over the past couple of weeks has been hugely rewarding. Having said that, there is nothing better than watching UWC play under the lights in the stadium, with students and staff alike cheering them on.”

19

ONE SIZE (DOESN’T) FIT ALL Athletes across the world, including these UWC alums, have had to find creative ways of staying fit during the pandemic

By Melissa Siegelaar

T

he COVID-19 pandemic caused sporting events to be cancelled across the world in 2020. But that didn’t stop professional athletes Thembi Kgatlana, Babalwa Latsha and Ashley Blockie Smith from finding creative ways to stay physically and mentally fit.

“When the pandemic hit, I was in Europe,” says Kgatlana, an international football player, a member of South Africa’s national women’s team Banyana Banyana, and one of two South African women ever to be awarded African Women Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The forward joined Portugal’s SL Benfica club on 27 January 2020 and helped the club beat Braga 3-1 just five days thereafter.

The UWC alumnus soon found her feet, scoring three domestic cup goals.

Then, on 13 March, all sport matches were suspended in Portugal due to the spread of the coronavirus.

“We had to start training online,” says Kgatlana.

The training involved daily runs and completing exercises designed to be done in smaller, indoor spaces such as an apartment. Kgatlana also relied on training apps to further enhance her fitness.

“While many people were panicking when we went into lockdown and stopped matches,

20

I told myself, ‘We have no idea when this lockdown will stop, so you just need to keep training and keep yourself mentally and physically fit for when everything returns to normal.’”

Benfica players were also required to restrict their outdoor movements. “It was tough at first because it’s not something I was used to. Having to create space in your home to exercise daily also required some creativity.”

In July, Kgatlana moved to Spanish Primera Division side

SD Eibar, where she now trains in-person with her team under strict COVID-19 safety protocols.

The team has started to play matches again, without spectators.

“We’ve lived with this virus for a year now, so it’s important to find a way to return to living our lives as normally as we possibly can. I’ve done that by challenging myself mentally to do new things.

I take each day as it comes and I’ve accepted that the pandemic is continuously changing how we live.”

BLUE AND GOLD

Latsha, on the other hand, had a different experience to Kgatlana in Spain, where she experienced the first of two different lockdowns (the other in South Africa).

“I experienced two major lockdowns in two different countries. It felt weird, to say the least,” says the prop, who, in addition to being the first and only African women’s rugby player to go professional with a European team (Eibar Rugby Taldea in Spain), is currently training with the Springbok Women’s team in Stellenbosch, where they had been preparing for the now-postponed Rugby World Cup. “Never before has humanity or anyone in our generation experienced something of this magnitude. It’s been frustrating at times, but the main thing that worked for me was to focus on the things I could control.” One of which was keeping her body in good physical condition while she was at home, a feat that came with its own challenges.

“I started training at home by lifting furniture – and even my sister! – to build strength,” she says, laughing. “The focus was on making good use of the confined spaces I had to exercise in.”

Latsha admits she found it difficult to deal with match

cancellations as she loves being on the sports field. Her family, all of whom are former sports men and women as well, became her emotional rock as they understood the impact that the cancellation of in-person training and games have on athletes. She also drew on the mental resilience she’s built as a sportsperson.

This year, she says, has been much better, especially as she’s been able to train in-person with her Springbok teammates and has also been elected to Rugby Africa’s Committee for Player Welfare and Participation. “The [World Cup] is something I’m looking forward to. It’s massive and quite exciting,” she says, adding that she hopes to use her platform to further contribute to women’s rugby on the continent.

“The best part about being on this committee is that I’ll be working with 10 other African women who are making an impact with rugby in their countries.”

Middle-distance runner Smith has had a more South African experience. He’s been training in his driveway and taking jogs in his neighbourhood during the various lockdown levels. Smith, the 2019 UWC Sportsman of the Year, used to train at the UWC

athletics track before the pandemic hit. “Not much has changed in my training routine except that I now train at home,” he says.

While COVID-19 brought a wave of anxiety and uncertainty about his running schedule, he has remained highly motivated.

“The pandemic forced me to take a new perspective, where running is not my only source of happiness.

During the lockdown, my spiritual life has gotten stronger and I’ve found a lot of happiness from biblical scriptures. Before the pandemic, running was my only source of happiness, but now I’m trusting God with my plans.”

Smith’s athletic talent can only be matched by his positive attitude and willingness to find opportunities amid challenges – of which he’s found many during this time. With higher education institutions such as UWC having to adopt online learning to ensure physical distancing and to stop the spread of the virus on campus, it has benefited student-athletes like him indirectly. He says the balance between his academic coursework and running schedule has improved immensely.

Impressively, and despite the setbacks brought on by the coronavirus, Smith was selected as one of the official elite running ambassadors for the American sport equipment brand Under Armour in 2020, with his first advertisement posted to social media platform Facebook earlier this year.

Adds Smith: “I don’t know what 2021 has in store for me yet, but I know this will be my year of breakthrough.”

21

A SPORTING CHANCE

Active recruitment for university sport has been halted by COVID-19, but UWC has found opportunities amid the crisis

By Lyndon Julius | Photography: Lyndon Julius & Sikhulule Nkomphela

G

len Bentley, a support services manager at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) since 2018, expresses great excitement about the quality of the playing surface that will soon be available to all UWC athletes.

Bentley, who also manages the facilities at UWC Sport Stadium, has been in awe of the endurance and perseverance of both UWC athletes and coaches during the pandemic, but says there is a lot of work that will need to be done given the fact that schools and clubs – which remain the core recruitment hubs for universities – have been closed for sporting activities for months on end.

“The most important thing to consider is the fact that clubs and schools provide an excellent feeder system for athletes who wish to further their studies at UWC,” Bentley says. “This break in activity will be felt both in the short and long run, the former since there hasn’t been any sport played for about a full year and we are currently in the middle of what would have been the athletics season. The long-term effect will see the quality of events such as athletic meets, cross-country and intervarsity competitions be severely affected.

“Athletes will now have to recondition their bodies in order to push themselves to compete.

I guess the silver lining is that all

22

BLUE AND GOLD

athletes, globally, have been affected in some way by the lockdown regulations, so it evens out the playing field slightly.”

The bulk of the current UWC track-and-field athletes are making use of training grounds in the Parow and Blue Downs areas.

These facilities also allow UWC coaches to take sight of elite school track-and-field athletes in these catchment areas, aiding and assisting the recruitment process.

“While most of our athletes are currently training at these grounds, there has been no mention of school sport taking place anytime soon. This will definitely be felt in the long term.

Schools training at the same facility as our university allows our coaches some insight into the talent they can hope to recruit in future.”

Yet a glimmer of hope still exists for athletes across the

country, following the go-ahead given by Athletics South Africa (ASA) for fixtures to be drawn up and athletic events to take place, all while adhering to government COVID-19 regulations. “This good news from ASA will help boost the morale of not only the coaches and athletes, but the administrators as well,” Bentley says.

In true UWC fashion, he and his coworkers did not wait for restrictions to be lifted before they began planning their 2021 events. The UWC Athletics track that was constructed in 1984 is currently being resurfaced for the first time. Construction is expected to be completed

by July this year.

Chairperson of the UWC Rugby Club, Advocate Nicolas Kock, has had a challenging time of it, too. Despite having to recruit players in an unusual environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he

CLUBS AND SCHOOLS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT FEEDER SYSTEM FOR ATHLETES

remains in high spirits.

“The cancellation of the Young Guns 2021 edition of the FNB Varsity Cup means that some of our rugby players will not have played any rugby in two years,” Adv Kock laments. “Our Varsity Cup squad has been working tirelessly under the guidance of the new head coach, Paul Treu.

They’ve recently entered the full contact phase of their periodisation and are on schedule in their preparations for the FNB Varsity Cup competition, which has been given the green light.

“It’s been very challenging but UWC Management has been extremely supportive and our medical team has been amazing in limiting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our athletes.”

With recruitment hurdles due to the pandemic, he says he will now take the opportunity to focus on the current crop of UWC players, ensuring they are optimally conditioned ahead of the impending tournament.

“A third wave of COVID-19 is expected to reach us in April and only taper off in June, so our options are severely limited.

“But we are maintaining a positive mindset for the benefit of our players, coaches and administrators.”

23

SENTILE’S DREAM

Star UWC boxer Asemahle Sentile is getting closer to his Olympic aspirations

By Myolisi Gophe

W

hen Asemahle Sentile was young, his father used to tease him with the nickname “Softie” as he believed he was too soft-hearted.

To prove he could also be a “tough boy” and make his dad proud, he joined a boxing club where his older brother was already a member.

Since then, Sentile’s ability in the sport has not only proven that he can be tough, but has also opened

24

plenty of new opportunities for the athlete. Just this past month, he was named as one of only two boxers from the Western Cape to make the South African National Boxing Organisation’s (SANABO) elite squad for the World Olympic Qualifiers. The squad was selected following trials that were held in Durban in December 2020 and are set to attend a training camp in due course. There, only the best of the best will be chosen for the

final team to represent South Africa at the qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Paris, France.

“Every boy would want to make his dad proud,” the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology student says. “Having seen how proud my father was and how he reacted when my brother’s coach used to tell him how a boxing tournament had gone, I decided to follow suit.”

After he joined the club in his neighbourhood of Site C in

BLUE AND GOLD

Khayelitsha, he won his first bout and was named boxer of the tournament in just his second match. Sentile quickly ditched the other sporting codes he was involved with, such as football, rugby and cricket, to focus on boxing. And his dedication and commitment have paid off as he’s been a Western Cape champion in different categories since 2009, as well as the current titleholder for Under-57 kg.

It was these impressive achievements that made the Western Cape Boxing Organisation entrust Sentile and three other boxers to represent the province at the SANABO trials, despite the fact that no events or training had taken place during the many lockdown levels. “Last year was very difficult for many of us as students because we are not used to e-learning but we had to adapt. At the same time, my coach (Ginger Mapasa at the Khayelitsha Boxing Academy) was pushing me to prepare for the trials, too,” says Sentile.

In preparation for the trials, Sentile has been training at the UWC gymnasium, the boxing academy and with other pro boxers across Cape Town – which has given him the edge he required to win his first two bouts

at Dundee against opponents from the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Unfortunately, Sentile lost his final match, against a Gauteng boxer, via split decision – but was still chosen for the national team trials.

“The organisers felt both of us have the potential to be in the national team, so we were both selected for the trials where our characters will be tested further,” he says.

The selection has put Sentile on the verge of realising his dream: representing his country. “This means a lot to me. If 2020 was a mess, this was a blessing. For most people, including me, last year was a disaster – until that magical moment I could fight.

“It’s been one of my dreams to compete at that level.”

His resilience seems to know no bounds, and he credits it all to UWC, which he says has helped him further develop in both his sport and academics.

“I think I have all the resources I need; everything I need from the University, from my coach and from my teammates. I know I have what it takes to come back with a gold medal in the qualifiers, or even the Olympics. I train Mondays to Sundays and the University has assigned me

a personal trainer to help with strength and conditioning.

“I remember when I was in high school, our coach’s motto was ‘Use boxing to educate yourself’.

I almost signed a professional contract during my gap year in 2015 because I was training with pro boxers and getting offers that were difficult to refuse. But I knew from a young age that our coach was against turning professional while still young as you wouldn’t get the opportunity to get funding at the university level.

“This has been a blessing as I now know it’s important to have both a sporting and academic background to secure your future.”

He cites Phumlani Nkqetho as an example. “He [Phumlani] is the one who encouraged me to apply at UWC. Going to university had not even been on my radar until he told me of his studies at UWC. Seeing him achieve that meant it was possible for me, too.”

As a result, Sentile received a sport bursary for his studies at the University. “Part of what I’m doing is majoring in psychology, which is all about the mind. And boxing is a chess game; it’s a mind game. So both have taught me how to resolve conflicts, how to distance myself and how to be a better human being.”

25

UDUBS SPORT ON THE UP AND UP

UWC’s astonishing rise as a key role player on the local, national and global sporting scene sets its student-athletes up for success

By Fabio De Dominicis

T

raditionally, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has been eclipsed by its more internationally recognised neighbours, Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town (UCT). However, the University’s eye-catching rise in recent years has turned heads in South Africa’s university sport scene as the institution continues to lay the foundation of many a student-athlete’s career.

Sandwiched between three important industrial zones on the outskirts of Cape Town, UWC’s campus may not have

26

the aesthetically pleasing postcard backdrop of the Cape Winelands or Table Mountain like its provincial counterparts, but its recent upturn in both academic and sporting achievements has made it a fair contender amongst South Africa’s elite institutions.

Along with academic success, the University has produced many students who also excelled in sport over the years, yet whose efforts were often ignored. Thus, eight years ago, UWC set out a vision with a renewed focus on sport, raising the bar to afford prospective students an array

of new opportunities.

“UWC has always produced great sports men and women, but the challenge has always been that these successes were not celebrated,” Mandla Gagayi, the University’s Director of Sport, says. “As such, UWC’s leadership took a deliberate decision in 2013 to make sport one of its priority tools towards building the University’s brand.

“This meant that more support and resources were invested towards building our sport into a professional and competitive entity. As a result, a strategy was developed to look at the recruitment of student-athletes and coaches, the development of sporting facilities, a new media footprint, as well as academic support for elite student-athletes.”

The University now offers 20 different sporting codes, divided into three categories: recreational, competitive and high-performance, with athletics, basketball, cricket, football, netball, rugby and hockey forming the latter.

The commitment to sport has reaped its rewards of late, with alumni like Herschel Jantjies forming part of South Africa’s winning World Cup Rugby team in 2019, Kurt-Lee Arendse starting for the national men’s Rugby 7s

BLUE AND GOLD

side, footballer Thembi Kgatlana winning the 2018 African Female Player of the Year award and Babalwa Latsha becoming the first South African female rugby player to secure a professional rugby contract abroad.

In 2018, the University’s rugby side won the second-tier Varsity Shield competition to earn promotion to the prestigious Varsity Cup tournament for the first time in history, while the UWC women’s football side is one of three university teams playing in the recently-established SAFA National Women’s League.

The global health crisis brought progress to a screeching halt, as was the case the world over, yet the University’s sporting teams adjusted using innovative ways to continue training sessions and competitions online while in constant communication with their coaches. Additionally, UWC used the COVID-enforced break to tackle major infrastructure projects: the resurfacing of the athletics track and laser levelling of the main sports field.

“Our athletics track was more than 30 years old and had reached the end of its line,” Gagayi says.

“Given that athletics is one of our high-performance sporting codes and that we plan to host national and international events, we sourced funding to invest in upgrading the track to the standards of World Athletics (previously the International Association of Athletics Federations). This includes an upgrade of the main field so we can host professional soccer matches, as well as provide a training venue for visiting teams.

“We have also established a high-performance gym with a full medical staff complement for our teams, which will also be open to visiting teams. Through these ventures, scheduled for completion in June, the University hopes to generate income that can go back into the development of more sporting facilities, as well as attract more elite athletes to UWC.” It’s not only elite athletes but also elite coaches that have

recently been involved in UWC structures. UWC women’s football head coach is Thinasonke Mbuli, assistant coach of the South African women’s national team, while former rugby head coaches include the late Chester Williams, who won the 1995 Rugby World Cup with the national team, as well as former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers. Current rugby head coach Paul Treu played for the national Rugby 7s team before coaching the national side for nine successful years, bringing a vast amount of experience and pedigree with him.

Ahead of this year’s FISU World University Student Games in Chengdu, China, Gagayi says UWC students have been putting in the hard work as selection for the world’s premier university sport competition draws near.

“UWC has always provided a large number of student-athletes to Universiades and this year will not be any different,” he states.

“Our student-athletes have been keeping busy with training as they know what it takes to get selected.

“Our mission is to support them with the necessary tools to be at their best when selection time comes.”

As First Vice-President of University Sport South Africa (USSA), Gagayi hopes university sport will soon return for the thousands of eagerly awaiting student-athletes across the country. “My immediate wish is for sport to get back to action so students can go back to doing what they love,” he says. “I hope USSA will be able to field a strong team for the Universiade, given the circumstances.”

Until then, rest assured that the student-athletes attending the University of the Western Cape will continue their training and utilise the numerous opportunities the institution has afforded them – all while aiding the University’s upward trajectory.

The full version of this piece was originally published on fisu.net.

27

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF

FORWARD-THINKING HIGHER-LEARNING VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE: WWW.UWC.AC.ZA