WORDS FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

Prof Tyrone Pretorius Rector and Vice-Chancellor, University of the Western Cape

There has never been a more important Olympic Games than the triumph of the human spirit that unfolded in Japan. That it was called the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when it was happening in 2021 told us all we need to know about the fortitude of the organisers and athletes who participated in perhaps the most significant games of the modern era.

There were, of course, concerns about safety — and they were not unfounded. Notwithstanding those concerns, why were these Games so significant? It was not for any record-breaking performances or the medal hauls; in fact, those achievements were almost a bonus. It was significant because the world has changed, perhaps permanently, yet we could still celebrate an occasion like this because of the human endeavour to overcome the biggest challenge of the 21st century yet.

COVID-19 has changed everything. The way sport is played, the absence of fans, the incredible mental pressure placed on athletes to perform at the highest level. In our criticism, we sometimes forget that they are human, too. They feel anxious, depressed and overwhelmed at times because of the weight of expectation.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is proudly presented at these games too. For example, we could not be more proud of Kurt-Lee Arendse, participating in the South African Rugby 7s squad. Elsewhere, UWC graduate and current postgraduate student Lizaad Williams won his first One Day International (ODI) cap for the Proteas against Ireland. And what an achievement by our alumna Thembi Kgatlana, who recently signed a deal with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. Let us also not forget our very own Herschel Jantjies who played in a historic British and Irish Lions tour for the Springboks.

All these athletes participated at the highest level and do so far away from their families in socalled bio-bubbles. If a relative falls ill due to COVID-19, they are unable to lend support and may even have a sense of haplessness. They must know that the entire University community stands firmly behind them and with them.

In the same way, we applaud the courageous efforts of our student athletes, our Director of Sport Mandla Gagayi, and all UWC sporting codes that have been allowed to resume training and competitive matches.

Allow me to single out our UWC Rugby Head Coach Paul Treu in what was an extraordinary rugby tournament for UWC. I wish to pay tribute to all the players in the squad, as well as the medics, biokineticists, physiotherapists, the student media team, rugby administrator and the chairperson of the club. Perhaps the single biggest accolade was the crowning of Tinotenda Mavesere as the tournament’s so-called “Forward that Rocks”.

This team is special because they were on “foreign” soil in Pretoria — far away from the Operation Room that is the UWC Stadium and without the cheers of the thousands of students who usually support them. Yet, they did us so proud.

While celebrating the team’s achievements, we pay tribute to the former coach, the late great Chester Williams, for laying the groundwork on the road to further success.

This edition of Blue & Gold is distributed as we near the end of Women’s Month in August. Women athletes are unfairly scrutinised in all codes and for various reasons — from what they wear and their mental health to their gender. They have had to contend with pay disparities as well as a lack of commercial sponsorship in women’s sport.

However, at UWC, we do things differently because we subscribe to the adage that “if you strike a woman, you strike a rock”. Under the able leadership of Mr Gagayi and Professor Pamela Dube, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, women and men at UWC are equal and enjoy the same resources.

The University also continues to strive to have women coaches leading women’s teams. Our role is not to produce Springboks, Proteas or Banyana stars but to provide a platform where students can have the best of both worlds: academics and sport.

Sport, as we all know, goes a long way to achieving a healthy mind and body. And with this in mind, I wish the entire University community the best during these trying times and pray for your safety, health and wellness.