FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

BECOMING THE HUB OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE WESTERN CAPE

MANDLA GAGAYI, DIRECTOR, UWC SPORT ADMINISTRATION

W HAT A WONDERFUL START TO THE SECOND SEMESTER! Our joy and excitement could not be contained when the university repealed the COVID-19 regulations, thereby allowing all our teams to train and play their matches on campus. Having to play most of our matches away from home because our opponents were not vaccinated proved to be a very expensive exercise for UWC Sport.

IN JULY, we hosted the USSA Dance Sport at our newly named Jakes Gerwel Hall, and that proved a very successful event. To cap it all, USSA Dance Sport held a memorial service in honour of the late Adrienne Galagatsi, who had been their general secretary. Unfortunately, UWC Sport also had to say goodbye recently to UWC Boxing coach, Ginger Mapasa, who succumbed to illness on 20 July.

OUR TEAMS PARTICIPATED in the following USSA national competitions around the country: USSA Hockey, USSA Rugby, USSA Netball, USSA Karate, USSA Cross Country and USSA Supa-Pool. These events were very special to all involved because some had not participated in these competitions in two years. In August, we also successfully hosted the USSA Aquatics Championships in our revamped swimming pool, another success story of 2022.

HOWEVER, OUR BEST MEMORY OF 2022 so far is the Banyana Banyana’s AFCON victory in Morocco, which was long overdue and well-deserved. What made it even more special for UWC was the fact that almost 50% of the players were either UWC alumni or current UWC students. It was, therefore, no surprise that the Udubs family went all out to welcome the UWC Banyana players back to UWC – it was a fun-filled event full of celebration and appreciation of what our student athletes and alumni had achieved. Our huge appreciation is expressed to the Rector, Prof Pretorius, for hosting a special lunch for our heroines, and to our cool boss, Prof Dube, for giving a financial reward to each UWC player.

IT IS NO FLUKE that UWC currently has eight players in Banyana Banyana – Regirl Ngobeni, Bongeka Gamede, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Amogelang Motau, Noxolo Cesane, Fikile Magama (B), Khanyisa Manangela (B) and Sibulele Holweni (currently out due to injury). All our teams continue to give great performances in the regional and provincial leagues but special recognition must go to our three women’s football teams participating in the SAFA Regional

League, SASOL League and Hollywoodbets Super League. This is a huge project for women’s football and the collaborations with RV United, Western Cape Sports School and Curro Pinehurst have proved what can be achieved when people in sport work together. We are also about to launch a junior girls’ football programme, the She-Bobo, and the interest has been wonderful.

ALL THESE INITIATIVES will ultimately position UWC at the hub of women’s football development in the Western Cape. We are also steadily investing in our highperformance sports to ensure that they get promoted to the highest leagues within student sport. This will ensure that we are able to attract elite student athletes to UWC.

WE NOW CHANGE OUR FOCUS to the following world major events: the 2022 IRB Sevens World Cup (Cape Town), 2022 FIFA World Cup (Qatar), 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (Australia and New Zealand), and 2023 Netball World Cup (Cape Town).

We look forward to supporting our students, alumni and every South African participating in these events. I am most excited about South Africa’s prospects at the IRB Sevens World Cup, Netball World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup because UWC will have direct representation at these events. As such, I wish every player, official, volunteer and spectator all the best and I hope that each event will bring success for our country.

LASTLY, I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ALUMNI in various national teams, especially Babalwa Latsha, Kurt- Lee Arendse, Herschel Jantjies and Thembi Kgatlana (wishing her speedy recovery), and thank them for never forgetting where they come from. These alumni always make sure to visit us whenever they have a chance to do so and they religiously follow our teams’ performances. They give true meaning to what it means to be UWC. I must also congratulate my colleagues: Clement Trout, on his election as USSA Rugby General Secretary; Nadia Mgulwa, on her appointment as WP Hockey Manager to the IPT; and Elmien Cloete, who has been named Head Coach for the USSA Volleyball team that will be participating at the FISU World Championships in Brazil.

I AM UWC.

B+G OUR ALUMNI ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO VISIT US WHENEVER THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SO AND RELIGIOUSLY FOLLOW OUR TEAMS’ PERFORMANCES. THEY GIVE TRUE MEANING TO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE UWC.