4 minute read
AFFORDING LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS
BY LYNDON JULIUS
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE has always been an institution at the forefront of groundbreaking achievements in sport, with many student sportspersons going on to join the professional ranks in the democratic era. A key element in ensuring UWC’s competitiveness against better-resourced universities has been its dedicated sports administrators, coaches and support staff, many of whom are alumni and former star athletes themselves who represented the university at the highest levels.
CLEMENT TROUT, who grew up in Belhar and attended UWC after matriculating at Parow High School, was a utility backline player who represented the university for nine years in both the sevens and 15-man formats of the game, before ending his rugby career in 2013.
AFTER RETIRING, he took up various administrative positions and coaching roles at UWC. Trout started coaching the UWC Sevens side in 2015. Trout says: “Sport has always been a part of my family and life. I come from a sporting family; both my parents were involved in sports. My dad was very active in sports while I was growing up, so I would always be on the sports field over weekends and after school right by his side. Rugby and football were the two sports that I enjoyed playing very much growing up.”
TROUT REGARDS STUDYING as a key element in the growth and progress of every student athlete and led by example by continuing his studies after gaining his BEd while playing for the UWC side, going on to complete a BA Honours in Sports Development, a Postgraduate Diploma in Sport, Development and Peace as well as a Higher Certificate in Sports Management Business Principles.
“Studies are very important to me and I try to impart this to the student athletes that I work with. It should go without mentioning but I will say it, there are so many examples not only within the university space but sportspersons in general in South Africa that have had to cut a promising career short due to injuries and this is where a formal qualification should be in place.
CLEMENT TROUT
“I AM TRULY GRATEFUL for Mr [Mandla] Gagayi [UWC Sports Director] and how he places a lot of emphasis on creating an environment where our student athletes can balance both studies and their ambitions in their sports arena,” says Trout.
IN 2019, after coaching rugby for four years, Trout was officially appointed as a sports administrator. This year, he was elected to serve on the University Sports of South Africa (USSA) rugby committee.
“It is indeed an incredible honour to be elected and to serve on the USSA rugby committee,” Trout says proudly. “When you work in sports administration, especially within the university set-up, you are serving students and helping them to have the best possible opportunities to go on to higher honours. Many of us do this because we are passionate about the sport but also because we place the wellness of students high on the priority list. It is never about us; we merely administer and manage so that the students are afforded life-changing opportunities.”
THE 37-YEAR-OLD says his wife Monique and his two sons, Callum (9) and Mason (4), are the support structure that allows him to be as involved as he is with UWC Sport.
“Callum reminds me a lot of me when I was his age. I too used to follow my dad to the sports field almost every evening after school. His favourite player is Malcolm Marx, so there might be [a] difference when it comes to the preferred position in the team,” Trout says with a chuckle.
“I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A LEGACY not only to my wife and kids but also to the students and athletes that I work with. I am very passionate about sport and UWC, so being elected to serve, represent and add value to the USSA Rugby Committee is a position I do not take lightly. I hope to serve every stakeholder selflessly and hopefully improve where my predecessors have done remarkable work in the world of university sport,” says Trout. B+G
