A HIGHER STANDARD

A HIGHER STANDARD UWC’s soon-to-be-opened HighPerformance Centre gives rise to a new era of sports at the University

By Dumisani Koyana

Sports have changed in recent years and the introduction of science to the field has improved and positively impacted the industry. The sports department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has taken a step to ensure that the University’s athletes are provided with a platform to excel. This platform is the recently established High-Performance Centre (HPC), which will cater to eight sporting codes.

“The idea for a high-performance centre came about when the department looked at how sports have evolved from our playing days. There is much research to be done to ensure our athletes are developed holistically,” explains Mandla Gagayi, the Director of Sport at UWC. “In 2015, we sat down to draft a plan that roped in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences. Back in the day, coaches and team managers would make all the decisions, sometimes hindering the progress of the athletes. Now the aim is to bring in the research and perspectives of dieticians, biokineticists and psychologists, too.”

The plan also included earmarking specific sporting codes to be focused on. Rugby, cricket, football, athletics, basketball, netball, swimming and volleyball were chosen as these codes are marketable, generate a lot of media attention and are part of the Varsity Sports tournament. “However,” adds Gagayi, “this does not mean other sporting codes will be neglected.”

Since its establishment, UWC has produced players who have represented the country and went on to play in professional leagues. To attract top studentathletes, the Sport Administration’s stance on recruitment is to review each of the sporting codes’ recruitment plans to ensure they have a holistic outlook for intended players.

“Our goal is to make sure these athletes come to UWC to participate in sports and graduate,” says Gagayi. “We want to give them an environment that is suitable for them to excel both on the field and in the classroom.”

Student-athletes come from all corners of the country and, in most cases, are from rural areas where they have not previously been exposed to facilities such as those available at the University. They are naturally talented but need extra training so they are able to reach their full potential.

“When we initially submitted our plan for a high-performance centre, we also wanted to include housing for athletes in a separate sports residence with at least 500 beds. This will ensure sports staff can monitor the athletes – on their diet, training programmes, academics, and physical and mental health – while the athletes have access to these services 24 hours a day.

“Players who live off-campus, where they may not follow the proper diet or have space to grow, will be hindered in their athletic pursuits. We are very confident that once this housing plan, which is currently in progress, comes to fruition, it will be a huge advantage for our student-athletes,” adds Gagayi.

In addition to its current offerings – a gymnasium, physio

therapy and biokinetics – the HPC will also act as a revenue generator, with rental options for all or specific areas of the facility to external federations as well as provincial and national teams. The advantage, as Gagayi explains, is that the campus is close to the airport so visiting teams need not travel far for games.

Facilities are essential to ensure the HPC project succeeds and Gagayi is confident that the University will ensure they are conducive for professional standards. “We are currently refurbishing the main grass at the stadium as well as the athletics track. In the past, when we had a drought in the province, we could not use the fields but with the planned development of a synthetic football pitch, we will be able to use and maintain the facility in tough times while also renting it out, which will add funds back to the University’s coffers.”

With a current portfolio of a world-class swimming pool and a professional stadium in addition to the new planned facilities and high-performance centre, the trajectory of UWC Sport is looking ever brighter, opening the door for student-athletes to graduate and take their spot in the professional ranks.