DIRECTOR’S CORNER

By Mandla Gagayi, Director, UWC Sport Administration

It 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

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

May 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!

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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.