A NEW DAWN
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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
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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
