I appeal to all of our students and staff to engage in some form of physical or recreational activity on campus.
PROF TYRONE PRETORIUS, RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE
IT WASN’T THE BEST WEATHER on campus, with an unseasonal downpour and a few gusts. But that didn’t deter our students from coming out in their hundreds early in March to back our rugby team. They packed University Square as we launched our home campaign for the Varsity Shield rugby competition.
IT WAS HEARTENING and an indication that varsity life is indeed back to normal. Our team was doing well and we were beginning to sense silverware was in the offing. That feeling turned out to be prescient as the team proceeded to overpower all opposition to take the Varsity Shield for 2023!
THESE SPORTING OCCASIONS must never be underestimated. They build camaraderie and university spirit among our campus community and instil pride. Success on the sporting field shows that UWC remains an institution of choice to study and play sports at the highest level.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES on producing wellrounded students at UWC who display academic endeavour and excellence while they participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including rugby, swimming, basketball, athletics, choirs and dance. A healthy body makes for a healthy mind and being. The sound of dominoes smashing on the tables of the Student Centre is reassuring and elicits a smile. As long as these sessions do not encroach on learning and teaching time, they are an important part of student life.
FOR OUR FIRST-YEARS, participating in a recreational activity is a great way to get to know your fellow students and build lifelong friendships. I am living proof. As a student at UWC, I played soccer for the university, and I am still in contact with many of those fellow students and teammates. I appeal to all of our students and staff to engage in some form of physical or recreational activity on campus. Whether you’re participating in one of our multitude of sporting codes in a formal team structure or socially – get your blood flowing!
WE HAVE UPGRADED much of our sporting infrastructure on campus and want everyone to use them. But moving can also mean just a leisurely walk on one of our beautiful Cape Flats Nature Reserve trails.
IN THIS EDITION of Blue and Gold, we highlight the year of achievement in women’s sports. Our national women’s teams are participating in high-level events like the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Netball
World Cup right here in Cape Town. We witnessed the Proteas women making history and competing in the final of the T20 Cricket World Cup and many of our past and current students will be involved in the FIFA Women’s World Cup later this year.
WHILE OUR SPORTS ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED to contributing top athletes to national teams that is a by-product of university life. Our ethos is that we encourage our students to strive to be excellent scholars first while giving their all on the field of play.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY to thank all on campus and our broader UWC community for their incredible resilience, shown during arguably the most challenging period this century. There have been heavy losses. But we move forward with renewed vigour and purpose. To all our athletes, know that we are with you in mind and spirit and willing you on as you strive to be the best you can be.
IT IS MY HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE to be given the opportunity to write for the Blue and Gold magazine and I write this article overflowing with joy and a sense of pride. As you know, I joined UWC in February this year, at the height of the registration period. Joining the university at this busy time allowed me to witness many different divisions, faculties and student leaders working hard to assist and guide new first-year students as they begin their journey at this esteemed institution.
THE WARM WELCOME I RECEIVED reminded me that I have come back home, to my alma mater. Joining the procession to welcome first-years brought sweet memories of my PhD graduation here at Udubs, many years ago. To all the 2023 first-years, I will always cherish this connection I have with you as we start our journeys together here. I look forward to a great time of service and may yours be an experience of success from year to year as you work towards your own graduation day. Being part of UWC is a commitment I take seriously and I am surely bringing my A game. I hope you are doing the same.
I DRAW INSPIRATION from sportspeople and athletes. I learned that victorious sportspeople display several distinguishing attributes including that they are goal-oriented; they commit to a strict routine that requires serious discipline to build and maintain their fitness; and they allocate time to practice their sport. Being goal-
oriented, disciplined and having great time management are some of the critical ingredients to enable academic success too. Perusing previous issues of Blue and Gold, I am encouraged to see that I am joining an institution where champions are made. It warms my heart to read that Director of UWC Sport, Mr Mandla Gagayi’s best memory of 2022 is Banyana Banyana’s AFCON victory in Morocco, where ‘50% of the [Banyana] players were UWC alumni or current UWC students’. Indeed, UWC is becoming a ‘hub of women’s football development in the Western Cape’ with the launch of She-Bobo, the junior girls’ soccer league. I am happy to join an institution with a great vision to fight for gender equity on all fronts. I am persuaded, this is the place to be!
MY PREDECESSOR, Prof Pamela Dube, and the Student Development and Support (SDS) team have achieved great work to date. I have to express my heartfelt appreciation to her and the entire team that I get to join a very strong SDS division, with a clear vision, carefully crafted strategies and plans that have already yielded great success. I am acutely aware of the road SDS has to travel from here into a future that offers no certainties. Fortunately, SDS is firmly anchored in an institution that has a lot going for it. The student experience is solidly located at the core of the institutional strategy.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS WORLD-CLASS, with several new buildings and sports facilities that have been added since I was a student on campus. The
facilities are well-maintained and as you drive through the entrance, you cannot miss the cleanliness and the well-maintained gardens. I find this environment so inviting and, evidently, so do many student athletes.
THE CONSISTENT MESSAGE I got from all the staff orientation presentations I joined was that this is a university where governance systems and structures are in place. The passion each presenter displayed for their work made a loud and clear call to us, the new staff members, to join in. The bus tour was my highlight and the tour guide did a great job. Spending time at the Senate hall was so instructive and I suspected if there was still any doubt about whether we made the right choice as new staff members, all of that doubt was cleared.
UWC HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY and much potential to make even richer contributions to South Africa, the continent and the world. I have high expectations and I look forward with much excitement to how we will together shape the future of this great institution. To the many sports teams in this place, you need to know this –I love to be on the winning side and I count on you to make my day.
I WISH ALL OF YOU a successful year as you pursue your winning goals in and outside the classroom.
LET US CONTINUE TO LEARN, BECOME AND THRIVE!
UWC HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY AND MUCH POTENTIAL TO MAKE EVEN RICHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUTH AFRICA, THE CONTINENT AND THE WORLD.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL CLOSURE IN 2022 with our rugby men’s sevens team winning the Varsity 7s, women’s football
finishing second in the Hollywoodbets Super League, and most of the other teams retaining their top eight targets. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our former boss, Prof Dube, as she has taken up the Vice-Chancellor’s position at the Central University of Technology. We wish her all the best and she definitely knows that one can check out of Udubs but can never leave (once Udubs, always Udubs).
GETTING TO 2023, we welcome our new boss, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support, Prof Matete Madiba. I am confident that she will steer the SDS ship to greater heights. As for sport, I can safely say we are in good hands as she comes from an institution that fully appreciates and accepts the value of sport at institutions of higher learning.
WE ALSO WELCOME our new Sports Administrator, Ms Wendy Nomatse, a longstanding servant of student sport. Wendy is a product of UWC and has worked at UWC Sport as a student assistant since 2016. In the process, she obtained her master's degree in Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science. Wendy is true testimony of UWC Sport’s ‘grow your own timber’ approach and she will be managing cricket, supa-pool and table tennis.
WELCOME TO A NEW COHORT of coaches and student athletes. We are very excited and optimistic about the value that they will bring to UWC and UWC Sport. Our biggest appointment for 2023 is Coach Phumza Maweni, a Proteas Netball goalkeeper and a welltravelled athlete. She will bring a fresh dynamic to our netball, along with her new coaches, Vanessa Lingeveldt, Akhona Faye and Keesha van Schalkwyk. Akhona and Keesha are no strangers to UWC Netball as they both formed part of the generation that took UWC to Varsity Netball level, with Keesha as the team captain.
AS FOR THE MANY STUDENT ATHLETES who have graduated and left our fold, we cannot say goodbye because we still want them to remain part of UWC in their different capacities.
THE ONE QUESTION that I consistently ask my team is ‘why do we do what we do?’ I do not ask this question out of ignorance, but to remind the team of our mandate and commitment to UWC students and the sporting
community at large. Our jobs are not about getting big scores on the field. They are about arming each student with tools that they can use to better their lives, whether as professional sportsmen and women, employees or business owners.
OUR BIGGEST SATISFACTION AND CELEBRATION come when we notice our graduates making a meaningful contribution to society. We run a very long race and sometimes results only show when some team members are no longer with us. Such is the nature of our ‘why’, which is only achievable through collaborations and partnerships. Therefore, I would like to thank all our internal collaborators from the SDS units, IA, faculties, support divisions and the university leadership. I also thank our contributors and supporters: Lily Ashton Foundation, Red Bull, Pro Events, Qina Holdings and Campus Lifestyle.
our achievements do not come easily because we have to deal with the challenge of a lack of sporting facilities. We have no hockey astroturf, netball, basketball, volleyball and boxing halls, but our teams still give their best to remain competitive and be counted among the top eight sporting universities in South Africa.
OUR TEAMS OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES because, like the UWC Sport staff, they are driven by the ‘why’. It is their ‘why’ that enables them to overcome challenges in their lives and go on to become responsible citizens.
2023 IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING
YEAR for all at UWC. It will be the first time that some senior students attend contact lectures while also familiarising themselves with different campus facilities and services. This process needs to be managed with sensitivity to ensure that UWC remains a home for everyone. We will also be following the women’s World Cups in cricket, netball and football. Netball and football will be very special because some of our players and coaches are part of our national teams.
I WELCOME ALL THE FIRST-YEARS, new coaches and returning students to UWC Sport. May we make 2023 yet another memorable year.
I AM UWC
WE WILL CONTINUE to seek and establish partnerships, regardless of the challenging economic climate, because we are fully aware of the financial realities facing institutions of higher learning. We appreciate that sport cannot only depend on university grants or student fees to thrive. Credible corporate partnerships are critical to ensure that we jointly contribute to making our country a better place through sport. Unlike many competitors,
OUR BIGGEST SATISFACTION AND CELEBRATION COME WHEN WE NOTICE OUR GRADUATES MAKING A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.
BY LYNDON JULIUS
1 WORDS FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR BY PROF TYRONE PRETORIUS
2 DVC’S CORNER BY PROF MATETE MADIBA
4 FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK BY MANDLA GAGAYI
7 EDITOR’S NOTES BY MYOLISI GOPHE
8 STEADILY IMPROVING BY LYNNE RIPPENAAR-MOSES
10 APPRECIATING UWC’S HOLISTIC SUPPORT BY ZAAHIER ADAMS
11 READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD BY BUNTU GOTYWA
12 FIRST UNESCO CHAIR IN SPORT IN AFRICA BY LONWABO MARELE
13 UWC SPORT TO GET SOME WIIINGS! BY FATIMA AHMED
14 KURT-LEE CREATES HISTORY BY LYNDON JULIUS
15 HEADING BACK TO THE BIG TIME BY JOSHUA HENDRICKS
16 UWC REGAINS VARSITY CUP STATUS BY LYNDON JULIUS
18 SUCCESSFUL KICK-OFF FOR SHE-BOBO
BY GASANT ABARDER
20 RUGBY STAR MAKES HER SPRINGBOK DEBUT BY JOSHUA HENDRICKS
22 ACADEMIC SUPPORT PAYS OFF BY MARGO CARELSE
24 PROFESSIONAL CAREERS BECKON FOR RUGBY STARS
BY LYNDON JULIUS
26 SPORTS ROUND-UP
28 A YEAR OF EXCELLENCE
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE’S astounding rise from a disadvantaged institution to becoming celebrated among the leading universities in South Africa has birthed a new challenge –to rise all the way to the top.
LEADING THE CHARGE THIS YEAR, UWC Rugby bullied and brushed aside their opponents to top this year’s Varsity Shield competition, making light work of earning promotion back to the Varsity Cup and of winning the trophy for a record third time.
Amid the euphoria of celebration, we would do well to heed Coach Paul Treu’s observation regarding the difference in standard between the Varsity Shield and the Cup. As he rightly notes, staying in the main
competition is a completely different challenge (see article on page 16). The rugby team has also continued to produce top-class players, with three former UWC players signing their first professional contracts (see page 24) and Shaunique Hess making her debut in the 15s format of women’s rugby for the Springboks against Canada in March (see page 20). Our rugby players are not just on an upward trajectory – they’re shooting for the moon!
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, the university’s football club also regained its status to compete in the prestigious Varsity Football competition (see page 15). After winning the competition in 2015, UWC saw its performance decrease until its exit from that level in 2018. However, now the footballers are back where they belong.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S SPORT is having a busy year, with netball, cricket and football all hosting world cups. Cricket had a successful tournament in the Mother City early in the year, and netball promises to be even better in July, also in Cape Town.
THESE ARE CELEBRATORY TIMES, indeed, and what better way to do that than to showcase the contributions UWC has made and continues to make in developing the sporting talents of its students in these and many other codes (see Sports Round-up on pages 26 and 27).
THIS ISSUE OF BLUE AND GOLD also shows that our contributions to sports development extend beyond campus, from leadership roles in international sports administration, to organising the first local junior girls’ football festival.
UWC IS TRULY A PLACE THAT OFFERS STUDENTS the best of both worlds – in sporting and academic pursuits.
HAPPY READING.
PUBLISHER:
University of the Western Cape’s Department for Institutional Advancement
PRODUCTION:
Kult Creative
PRODUCTION TEAM:
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
DIRECTOR: Professor Anesh Maniraj Singh
UWC SPORT DIRECTOR: Mandla Gagayi
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Gasant Abarder
EDITOR: Myolisi Gophe
COMMISSIONING EDITOR: Nashira Davids
MANAGING EDITOR: Nastasha Crow
ART DIRECTOR: Michael Daries
EDITORS:
Nazeem Lowe and Kariema Lowe
CONTRIBUTORS:
Zaahier Adams, Ruvan Boshoff Giovanna Collins, Joshua Hendricks, Buntu Gotywa, Lyndon Julius, Lonwabo Marele, Lynne Rippenaar-Moses, Sikhulele Nkomphela, John Thwaits, The Popping Crease, SA Rugby, UWC Sport, UWC Media, Western Province Rugby, Griquas Rugby, ASEM Engage/Nasief Manie
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR:
Sikhulele Nkomphela is an accomplished photographer and multimedia content creator who recently travelled to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on assignment. He is also a proud UWC alumnus and resident photographer for UWC Sport.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparing the content, both the publisher and UWC assume no responsibility for mistakes or effects arising therefrom. The publisher has made every effort to arrange copyright in accordance with existing legislation.
BY LYNNE RIPPENAAR-MOSES
FOR TWO YEARS, the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) netball team’s main focus was on playing together effectively. This approach is paying off as the team has steadily improved against some of South Africa’s top university netball teams.
GUIDED BY DANLEE MATHEWS, a former Western Province and Proteas player, UWC progressed to the Cape Town district finals of the Twizza Netball Club Championships in 2021, beating some of the district’s top super league netball teams. They lost 41–26 to Durbanville Netball Club in the finals.
COACH MATHEWS focused on the holistic development of the players. She said: “I can’t have players who only concentrate on one thing in their lives. Players’ background, their academics, as well as their mental wellness, have an impact on them. It can’t only be about netball because netball is not a long-term career.”
At the time of the Twizza Championships, Courtleigh Behr was the captain of the team and Adri Kannemeyer was the vice-captain.
REFLECTING ON 2022, Kannemeyer says that it was one of UWC’s “biggest years in terms of team building”. Behr adds that improved team cohesion led to UWC “consistently performing against the stronger university teams”.
During the University Sports South Africa (USSA) games in July, UWC decreased their game score margins against North-West University, Stellenbosch University and Nelson Mandela University (Madibaz).
Although losing to the University of the Free State and the Madibaz team at Varsity Netball, they narrowed the losing margins in those games as well.
“Of course, it was also important for us to be on the winning side,” says Behr, adding that they beat Tshwane University of Technology during that Varsity Netball tournament.
A LOT OF TIME WAS SPENT on the court focusing on the team’s playing style to measure their progress against previous milestones rather than comparing how they had fared against rival teams. Numerous hours were also spent on improving defence.
“You can’t win a game if you can’t turn more balls within the game to gain points. We also worked on keeping calm when attacking and the shooters getting their shots through the hoop,” Behr says.
THIS STRATEGY PROVED TO BE A CHALLENGE initially as it required a “change in mindset” and team members had to reflect on their mistakes as individuals and as a team.
“Once we started looking at what we as a team did wrong and how we can fix that, we immediately started to counter little technical aspects in the other team’s game without us even realising that.”
The team has also been working on improving their fitness and making mental health a priority.
“We want to win and there is a willingness to work hard, push ourselves and do it together. When we started focusing on mental health, we spent more time listening to what our teammates were struggling with and started checking in to find out if everyone was okay. This made our relationship much stronger, which influences what happens on the court,” says Kannemeyer.
The team is attracting more interest among high school netball players.
“We now have quality high school players who want to come to UWC, which means our pool of players is growing,” says Kannemeyer.
2023 IS GOING TO BE an even busier year for UWC’s netball players. But even with their time-demanding training and playing schedule, both Behr and Kannemeyer want to see the UWC team back in the USSA Super League, players competing in the Telkom Netball League and at least reaching the semi-finals of Varsity Netball. Cape Town is also hosting the Vitality Netball World Cup this year.
The coaching team has been strengthened by the appointment of Proteas goalkeeper Phumza Maweni and new team coach Vanessa Lingeveldt, a former Western Province and Proteas netball player. Lingeveldt is addressing two issues that the netball team still seems to struggle with – “the team dynamics and culture within the team”.
LINGEVELDT SAYS: “We all come with our own skills, talent, understanding and assigned tasks, but we do not know each other. We must understand the part that each one is going to play if we want to clarify our team culture and norms.”
KANNEMEYER ADDS CONFIDENTLY: “I think you are going to see a movement of UWC, from being considered the underdogs in netball to becoming a force to be reckoned with.”
We want to win and there is a willingness to work hard, push ourselves and do it together.
ADRI KANNEMEYER
AYLINN BOSCH AND LEAH
WJONES are third-year Bachelor of Law (LLB) students at the University of Western Cape and also integral members of the UWC Women’s Cricket First XI team, who only experienced on-site campus lectures this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOSCH HAS BEEN A PART of the leadership group in women’s cricket at UWC for some time, while Jones has the distinction of being the youngest-ever member of the Western Province Senior Women’s team.
“The COVID period was a unique challenge for me,” says 21-year-old Bosch. “Because we were not able to attend classes on campus, I found myself having a lot more free time and I threw myself into coaching [young girls and boys with the assistance of UWC’s Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme]. It is something I really enjoyed and I found myself doing a lot more of it.
“But then I was doing so much, and also training, that I realised I needed to pay more attention to my academics. That’s how SS4LS became so important. My academic tutor was really good in helping set up a schedule that works for me, and in terms of aligning my priorities, so it helped in terms of my time management and getting me on track,” says Bosch.
TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JONES says she couldn’t play in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February but volunteered
to be a changeroom attendant for all the Newlands matches.
“I just wanted to be involved in any way, to be up close to the best women’s cricketers in the world, to see how they prepare, both physically and mentally. Hopefully, I can transfer it to my game,” Jones says.
CURRENT WP CAPTAIN Jones recently joined the South Africa Emerging XI, which is one step below Protea selection. The impressive all-rounder is one of the young players destined to take the places of Proteas stalwarts such as Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail on the international scene.
JONES APPRECIATES THE ASSISTANCE she receives at the UWC Women’s Cricket Club, which she joined while in Grade 11 at Groote Schuur High School in Newlands.
“I played at UWC while I was still at school and it was a great benefit then already. The academic administration was really helpful as they assisted me with a tutor who helped me with my studies.
“They also provide us with transport to and from the games, which other clubs don’t, so that’s also a major help. These were big factors in my choosing to study and play cricket at UWC.”
SHE SAYS HER EXPERIENCE as a full-time student on campus has been “really amazing”.
“My braces for my teeth were provided by the SS4LS programme. I wouldn’t have been able to afford them otherwise,” says Jones.
“Cricket-wise, it’s been so much. Our coach, Jerry [Malilwana], is always available for a net session.
“He is just a WhatsApp away and eager to have one-on-one sessions. He’s a really good coach and it helps you improve your game when you know that your coach is always available to assist you where necessary.”
ASIDE FROM THE SUPPORT of the UWC team of biokineticists and physiotherapists, Jones highlighted the value of the cricket nous of UWC Director of Cricket and former Pakistan Men’s national team coach, Richard Pybus.
“Pybie has been a great help to all the girls. He is such an experienced coach at the highest level and the work he does with us during winter is invaluable. He also sits in our pre-season strategy sessions and having him guide us through it is a great help.”
BANYANA BANYANA are en route to their second FIFA Women’s World Cup, still on a high after lifting the 2022 WAFCON and beating Morocco 2–1 in the final. The SA ladies are confident that they have what it takes to cause a few upsets at the global showpiece to be held in Australia and New Zealand between 20 July and 20 August. And who can fault their optimism? After all, before 2022, they came agonisingly close to lifting the WAFCON trophy five times, only to lose in the finals. These players do not ever quit.
IN THE PAST, Banyana had been blessed with talented individuals who enjoyed stellar careers without quite making it at the world level as a team. The team has been on an upward trajectory in recent years and, with the addition of coach Desiree Ellis in 2018, they seem to have found their spark. Finally crossing the African hurdle and being crowned African champions could be the start of a new dawn in African women’s football on the biggest global stage.
THE WORLD CUP WILL BE NO EASY TASK. Banyana has drawn a tough group with Argentina, former World Cup quarter-finalists Italy and second-
ranked former finalists Sweden. Sweden is the toughest of the three opponents and the only one Banyana has played before. It’s worth mentioning that the side was able to hold the talented Swedes to a goalless draw in their last encounter. To put the challenge in perspective, Banyana lost all their group-stage matches at FIFA 2019 in France. It would be a massive achievement to even make the final 16, which no senior South African side has yet done in the World Cup. The World Cup squad is expected to feature most of the players who took part in WAFCON.
AFTER THE POST-WAFCON RUDE AWAKENING of losing heavily in friendlies to Brazil and Australia, Coach Ellis knows there is a lot of work to do before July arrives. But tough opposition doesn’t faze this highly experienced coach.
DEBUTING AT THE MATURE AGE of thirty in Banyana’s inaugural international of the democratic era, Ellis scored a hat-trick against Swaziland (Eswatini). She won 32 caps and captained the side that won the 2002 COSAFA Cup before retiring as a player. She has coached senior sides since 2006 and was recognised as CAF Women’s Coach of the Year three times.
There is no denying the competitive spirit of her players, many of whom ply their trade overseas against the best in the world at club level. The UWC Ladies’ football side has indirectly contributed to the national squad through its investment in the student game, which has produced many players who have served in Banyana.
AFTER WAFCON 2022, UWC had a huge homecoming ceremony for some of these players who have become regulars in the national setup and who are expected to play key roles if SA is to make it out of the group stages for the first time. Among the 10 ex-Udubs members of the WAFCON-winning team are UWC captain, Bongeka Gamede, Regirl Ngobeni, Amogelang Motau, Sibulele Holweni and Noxolo Cesane. UWC coach Thinasonke Mbuli serves Ellis’s national team as an assistant coach.
WITH OR WITHOUT ITS NATIONAL SQUAD MEMBERS, Udubs continues to field a strong team and finished second behind Sundowns in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Looking to go one better this season, the team hit the ground running with an opening week 9–1 drubbing of Coal City Wizards.
THE UWC LADIES’ FOOTBALL SIDE HAS PRODUCED MANY PLAYERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN BANYANA.
hub, engaging African researchers and capacitating emerging researchers to enhance international collaboration within the SDP field, with a focus on policy dialogue, research exchanges on case studies involving women and girls related to safeguarding in sport, and values education through sport.
PROF KEIM, who heads the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sport Sciences and Development at UWC, has more than three decades of experience in sport, peace, transformation and development in the non-profit sector and at UWC. She is a member of the Education Commission of the International Olympic Committee and is SecretaryGeneral of the Association of African Pierre de Coubertin Committees.
PROF KEIM has lectured and researched in the areas of sport and social transformation, community and youth development, multiculturalism, conflict transformation and peacebuilding in Southern Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and the USA.
THE CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES (CANOC) is collaborating with the UNESCO Chair on three projects working towards developing social integration within sport and society, which will establish strong ties with the University of West Indies regarding Olympic education.
MARION KEIM’S global advocacy for sport, peace, transformation and development has earned her the appointment as UNESCO Chair in Sport, Development and Peace (SDP) and Olympic Education.
THE GOAL OF THE UNESCO CHAIR, the first UNESCO Chair in Sport in Africa, is to transform the lives of vulnerable groups
such as youth, women and people with disabilities, and their families and communities, through SDP.
BY LONWABO MARELE B+G“This is the first UNESCO Chair in Sports in Africa, and for it to be hosted by UWC, in South Africa, is very important. There is something special about the country and its passion and history of using sport in a very unique way,” says Prof Keim. The UNESCO Chair aims at developing a continental research
THE THREE PROJECTS are the Sport Policy Mapping Research programme, the value of storytelling of Olympians project, and the establishment of a CANOC Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy and system.
PROF KEIM SAYS: “The contribution one is able to make to develop a better, more peaceful and humane world, no matter where one is from, unites us all. Sport for me is a school of life. When you are in sport, you belong to a global family.”
students to ensure that they flourish educationally, and beyond. Rather than taking a short-term approach, Red Bull’s mentorship programmes are long-term partnerships through which the organisation encourages students to give back by making themselves available for participation in the programmes or other initiatives.
STUDENT ATHLETE CANDIDATES will be selected by UWC Sports Administration based on criteria that include basic need, academic performance and high-performance sporting participation. The list of proposed candidates will then be submitted to Red Bull for verification and bursary approval. There will be regular check-ins with bursary recipients throughout the year and their mid and final-year results will be submitted to Red Bull for monitoring.
BY FATIMA AHMEDIT’S TRUE, UWC Sport is about to get some wiiings! Student fees are a huge challenge for many families. Now, thanks to UWC’s partnership with energy drink maker Red Bull, selected student athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive sports bursaries to enable them to attend university.
ANNOUNCING THE EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIP with Red Bull, Mandla Gagayi, Director of Sport at UWC, said the collaboration was due to Red Bull’s commitment to nurturing and investing in young people for the future. The Red Bull brand has been a
familiar sight at UWC for years, with the company having been a frequent sponsor or donor at campus sports and cultural events.
RED BULL IS RENOWNED for its mentorship programmes and other initiatives and shares an interest with UWC in nurturing
THE COLLABORATION between UWC Sport and Red Bull is mutually beneficial. UWC Sport can now attract more top student athletes and maintain the high standard of the various sports teams and codes, while Red Bull can contribute meaningfully to national transformation through education, encourage students to strive for success in sport and academia and provide opportunities for career fulfilment.
GAGAYI SAYS: “Many big industry players are beginning to see value in investing in edu-sport. I admire and respect Red Bull for its vision and responsibility towards South Africa’s young people. Hopefully, many other corporations will follow Red Bull's example and also invest in the future leaders of this country.”
UWC SPORT IS PROUD TO PARTNER with Red Bull to enable more young people to learn, partake in sports and excel while at university – all without the worry of unpaid fees. True to their slogan, Red Bull is providing these students with the wings to soar into the future!
Red Bull will be providing students with the wings to soar into the future!
FORMER UWC RUGBY PLAYER Kurt-Lee
Arendse has made history by becoming the first Springbok in history to score a try in seven consecutive Tests. He joined UWC ahead of the 2017 season, when Chester Williams was preparing the team for the FNB Varsity Shield.
ARENDSE SAYS: “When I joined UWC from Boland, I had not met coach Chester yet so I asked one of the guys if they could ask him if I could join them at training and he said yes. I received a bursary to study and did a bridging course in economic development before starting my Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 2018. I eventually left my studies to become a full-on athlete.”
HE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART in the 2017 and 2018 squads that took the 2018 title and secured the historic promotion to the FNB Varsity Cup. He scored 16 tries in 13 Varsity Shield matches. After playing at right wing in FNB UWC’s 2019 season opener against FNB Ikeys (his first and last Varsity Cup game), the South African Sevens Academy Manager, Marius Schoeman, included him in the Blitzboks squad.
ARENDSE SCORED ON DEBUT for the Blitzboks in their semi-final victory over Fiji at the HSBC Vancouver Sevens
Series in Canada. He played in 41 tournaments for the Blitzboks, winning four titles and scoring 15 tries.
HE JOINED the Blue Bulls Rugby Union at the end of the 2019 season and won the Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup with the Pretoria side, and a runner-up medal in the inaugural United Rugby Championship. During the 2021 season, he scored seven tries in 14 games for the Bulls.
SPRINGBOK HEAD COACH Jacques Nienaber then selected the talented speedster for the Bok squad’s second Test against Wales.
DURING THE 2022 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, an injury to Cheslin Kolbe allowed Arendse to be selected for the opening Test against New Zealand. Despite scoring his first Test try, he was red-carded for a dangerous tackle. After serving a four-match ban and returning to the squad for the final Rugby Championship match in Durban against Argentina, he scored his second Test try.
HE WENT ON TO SCORE in every match of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series against Ireland, France, Italy and England. The seventh try, against England,
showcased Arendse’s speed, vision and ability to step off both feet.
ARENDSE GREW UP IN LANTANA in Paarl and attended the Paulus Joubert Primary and High Schools. He returns as often as he can to spend time with the children in his old neighbourhood.
“Playing at UWC helped me grow as a player,” Arendse says. “I enjoyed playing with all the UWC guys. The coaching and support staff were truly a great bunch of people. I am very grateful for the opportunity that UWC afforded me to develop and hone my skills and talent.”
THE FIRST SPRINGBOK TO SCORE A TRY IN SEVEN CONSECUTIVE TESTS
TRIES IN 13 VARSITY SHIELD APPEARANCES
TRIES IN 41 TOURNAMENTS FOR THE BLITZBOKS
UWC MEN’S FOOTBALL is making a strong recovery after failing to qualify in 2019 and being unable to play USSA games to qualify for Varsity Football for two years due to COVID-19. The team was under enormous pressure in the recent USSA club champs to qualify for the Varsity Men’s Football Cup. According to Assistant Coach Msekeli Mvalo, a total rebuild was needed, along with developing a new ethos and elevated standards to achieve the target.
SAYS MVALO: “Due to the fact that most of our players were in-season with their respective clubs, we had to adjust
our programme to accommodate them. It was very important to be clear to our players in terms of how we want to play as UWC considering the strong institutions we were up against, like TUT, DUT, Tuks and Wits.”
HEAD COACH, Dr Lwando Mdleleni, says: “There were several challenges that we had to overcome. The preparation phase itself was very difficult. We struggled to implement our planned preparation programme due to players being unavailable because of club commitments, classes and taxi strikes. We had budgetary issues that meant we had to forgo a large part of our plans and adapt to our reality. “We were also hampered by injuries at
a crucial time. We lost three of our key players, but we had to adapt and trust the players we have in our squad. In addition, we were pinned in a group of death among the very top institutions in the country. Varsity Football has been played for nine years; seven of those titles were won by a team in our group. So it was really a daunting task for us. We had to eliminate some of the big institutions to be where we are today.”
The fact that the team emerged from that group of death as the designated Team of the Tournament speaks volumes for the quality of leadership and depth of experience of Mdleleni, Mvalo and the technical team. Mvalo, for example, can tap into a wealth of experience as a player as well as a coach. After starting in the Santos development squad, he went on to play for Golden Arrows, Chippa United, AmaTuks and Cape Town All Stars.
Mdleleni emphasised the collective effort and determination of the technical team, management and players, adding that he was not only grateful to his technical team for buying into his vision and the players for successfully executing the plan to qualify for the Cup, but also to the UWC Sport Director, Mr Gagayi, and Football Manager, Mr Sobekwa, for their unwavering support.
A total rebuild was needed, along with developing a new ethos and elevated standards to achieve the target.
MSEKELI MVALO[From left] Dr Lwando Mdleleni and Msekeli Mvalo. BY DUMISANI KOYANA
TTHE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (UWC) rugby team has regained Varsity Cup status through automatic promotion after winning all their matches to finish at the top of the Varsity Shield tournament.
UWC RUGBY had been relegated to Varsity Shield after the 2022 Varsity Cup season. Delighted UWC Director of Rugby, Paul Treu, says proudly that
his charges and the support team have been rewarded for their hard work in the past year.
“OUR BACKROOM STAFF has done amazing work this season with 18 new players selected over seven matches. We put a big emphasis on leadership development and mentorship, and we are grateful to our captain Tasriq Mynhardt and his leadership group for buying into our vision and values.”
FOURTH-YEAR B.ED STUDENT MYNHARDT says he enjoyed every minute of the 2023 season after the disappointment of relegation.
“I was part of the Varsity Cup group that was relegated. I felt it was my responsibility to get the team back into the Varsity Cup. Coach Paul said he was very proud of us, and I could see as we were celebrating afterwards, his body language and facial expression were that of a proud mentor.
“THIS PROMOTION IS VERY IMPORTANT for the university. Given the background of UWC, I think we create hope in the community. We have implemented a value system that everyone has bought into, and as a captain, it was and is important that we stick to these core team values.
“IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING when that final whistle sounded. It is an experience that we have not felt in a very long time,” Mynhardt continues. "This promotion was special, like most I am sure, but for me, it was special because it felt different, seeing that we have so many new players – I think there are about 18 new players in the team this year. This means we had to rebuild."
UWC’S CLUB MANAGER, CLEMENT TROUT, while elated with the team’s return to the Varsity Cup competition, explained that the club’s success contributed to a much larger mission of sports and community development.
“IT MEANS A LOT TO THE TEAM that we have gained promotion back to the Varsity Cup,” Trout says. “Not only is this important for us as a team and our progression but also for the progress of the university. UWC is a beacon of hope within some very challenging communities for our rugby club to be viewed as an equal competitor with the likes of UJ, Maties and UCT.
“SPORT AT UWC forms an integral part of how we attract top students to the university. We have grown tremendously since our first entry into Varsity Shield in 2008. Female empowerment and giving women in sports the proper and healthy platform is a key focus area for the sports administration department. Congratulations to Coach Paul and his entire coaching and management team. These guys have made huge strides in providing an excellent atmosphere for a high-performing environment,” says Trout.
REFLECTING ON THE HIGH STANDARD of rugby at Cup level and the club’s improved prospects, Treu warns: “We finished the job when it mattered and we are looking forward to playing in the Varsity Cup again in 2024. However, gaining promotion is one thing, but staying in the main competition is a completely different challenge.”
Sport at UWC forms an integral part of how we attract top students to the university.
CLUB MANAGERNEW PLAYERS WERE SELECTED OVER SEVEN MATCHES THIS SEASON.
IT WAS A SCORCHING DAY in October last year when 280 junior girl soccer players took to the turf at the University of the Western Cape Sports Stadium in an historic first-of-its-kind football festival exclusively for girls.
IT WAS ALSO NEW TERRAIN for a university. We don’t often host events with this particular age group in such large numbers. It was a steep learning
curve and the focus quickly went from football to a scramble to keep the girls hydrated as the heat took its toll. The girls impressed and put on a fantastic show for the very vocal crowd who came to the inaugural She-Bobo at UWC football festival on 24 October.
TEN TEAMS BATTLED IT OUT in each of the under-8 and under-10 sections of the festival and there were goals galore, terrific saves and some slick skills on display.
WHY WAS A UNIVERSITY HOSTING A JUNIOR GIRLS’ FOOTBALL FESTIVAL? Firstly, it was a shame that a country with aspirations to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 did not have a competitive stage for junior girls at this age in the Western Cape.
Secondly, it was not for lack of trying by the community clubs but the clubs simply don’t have enough resources and space to accommodate this growing women’s code. UWC did, hence we created a platform
that takes the burden away from community soccer clubs and provides the participating girls with transport, fields of play, kits and meals. Off the pitch, UWC has also partnered with the British Council and English Premier League’s Premier Skills programme to coach the club coaches.
enjoyed an afternoon of sport and fun.
IT WAS HEARTENING too to see big corporates buy into the idea. Apex Business Systems (run by alumnus Freddy Greaver) provided playing kits for the festival and the next two seasons, Nando’s Athlone provided meals for all the players and coaches, woman-owned Fieka Sports was the kit manufacturer, Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages kept the girls hydrated, and African Community Media, Kfm and Soccer Laduma made the young girls household names.
THE UWC STAFF AND ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS brought their trademark grit and sweat to the effort to make the day a rip-roaring success.
From this year, She-Bobo at UWC will take on a league format that will run over a few weeks to give the girls in these age groups regular competition while also endeavouring to provide life skills to the players and everyone involved with the game. We want to grow this league so that older girls can compete in a league of their own.
THE BIGGER PICTURE is served by providing the young girls with a taste of university life at UWC and exposure to the UWC brand. The girls can now imagine studying for a career and playing top-level football at a university that has become a hub of
excellence in women’s football. The pages of past editions of Blue and Gold have been filled with the exploits of our senior women’s team in the Hollywoodbets Super League and the Varsity Football competition as well as the inclusion of several players in the national side. More than half of the Banyana Banyana side that won the Women’s African Cup of Nations last year have a connection to UWC.
WE AIM TO PRODUCE a new cohort of young South African women leaders in their area of study, using football as a vehicle. If they go on to represent South Africa as professional footballers it is a bonus. It is a winwin with She-Bobo at UWC being the game changer.
WE HOPE OTHER UNIVERSITIES take on UWC’s blueprint and create a system where junior girls’ football enjoys maximum prominence and attention.
GASANT ABARDER is the Media and Marketing Manager of the University of the Western Cape. He was the tournament coordinator for the inaugural She-Bobo at UWC football festival.
WE WANT TO GROW THIS LEAGUE SO THAT OLDER GIRLS CAN COMPETE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.
SHAUNIQUE HESS is only 24 years old but is already a rugby veteran, having started playing for Western Province at the age of 13. She recently made her international 15s debut for the Springbok women’s team, playing alongside erstwhile UWC netballer Danelle Lochner in the Test against Canada on 25 March in Madrid, Spain.
“I ATTENDED Strand High School. My school did not have a girls’ rugby team. But I have been playing for Western Province since I was 13 years old. I officially joined UWC Rugby in 2018, and I feel very honoured and privileged to do so.
“I won all the player of the tournament [awards] at the youth tournaments between 2014 and 2017 and also YTC tournament player of the year at UWC. In 2019, I won backline player of the year.
“IN 2020, I did a bridging course at UWC and now I’m studying Sport and Exercise Science. My expectation for
this year is to help UWC to take their rugby to the next level and my goal is to also help establish a Varsity 15s team so that we can play in the Varsity Cup.”
GETTING TO THE ELITE LEVEL of women’s rugby requires a strong will, determination and dedication but the past winner of the Supersport Let’s Play Sport award had to dig even deeper to surmount the tremendous challenges she faced in her journey to the Springbok women’s team. Her faith and family were her biggest strengths at times. She says: “Like everybody else, I think finance was one of my biggest struggles, things like getting to training thrice a week and also having access to proper gym facilities.
“I MANAGED to get into the national Sevens training squad in 2017 and I messed up really badly disciplinewise, but I was only 17 at the time.
I OFFICIALLY JOINED UWC RUGBY IN 2018, AND I FEEL VERY HONOURED AND PRIVILEGED TO DO SO.
“TWO YEARS LATER, I fell pregnant and when that happened, nobody was willing to give me a chance in the professional setup. I struggled on until I was ready to give up on my dream of playing rugby.”
“I AM REALLY HONOURED to represent my country at the highest level in rugby. I was so excited when I made my debut against Canada,” says Shaunique. Unfortunately, the Boks suffered a red card in the sixth minute of their match and, with only 14 players on the field, were overwhelmed by the fourth-ranked Canadian team, going down 66–7. A week later, they won the second match of the tour, beating hosts Spain 35–20. Shaunique scored two tries in the match, her first points in the 15s format for the Springboks.
THE SPRINGBOK CENTRE says that she got down on her knees and asked God to direct her. At this point, she had to give up playing full-time and find a job so that she could provide for her daughter. Her parents and younger sister Bronisha’s support and belief in her kept her going in the next two seasons as motherhood impacted her rugby career.
HER CAREER GOT BACK ON TRACK in 2022 when she excelled while playing for Boland and earned an invitation to join the national training squad. “One of my mentors who has always fought for me, Mr Veldton, contacted me on 10 February and said that I was invited to the Springbok women’s 15s camp,” she says, adding that former Irish international and current SA Rugby high-performance manager for women, Lynne Cantwell, was also instrumental in opening the door.
THERE’S A VERY REAL PROSPECT that Shaunique could soon make history again, in a different way. Bronisha, who matriculated in 2022 and plans to study sports management, has matched her achievement by being recently invited to the Springbok training camp, also at 17. With a bit of luck, proud mom Bronwyn may soon see a Springbok match starring both her talented girls.
BY THE NUMBERS13
YEARS OLD
Starts playing for Western Province YEARS OLD
19
Officially joins UWC Rugby MARCH 2023
25
Makes her Springbok debut
I AM REALLY HONOURED TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN RUGBY. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I MADE MY DEBUT AGAINST CANADA.
THERE HAS BEEN A PLEASING SURGE in sports graduates in recent years, including postgraduate students who are also athletes. In 2022, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) celebrated the graduation of 54 women’s soccer, rugby and cricket athletes and a total of 131 graduates across all sports.
“UWC DEFINITELY SEES THE IMPORTANCE of sports and how exercise leads to a healthier lifestyle. Ideally, we would want all our students to lead healthy lifestyles and our sports teams serve as an excellent motivator for this. Across South Africa, the popularity of university sports has seen continual growth and the university’s emphasis has paralleled this,” says Andrew Greenwood, Academic Manager of Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) at UWC.
SPORT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE and shapes athletes' characters, teaching them how to focus and work towards their goals without being sidetracked. Many athletes find managing their sports expectations and goals and the academic programme challenging.
From an academic perspective, my main challenge is getting students to focus on anything beyond sports.
ANDREW GREENWOOD
“FROM AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE, my main challenge is getting students to focus on anything beyond sports. Generally, students arrive with a sense of identity and value intertwined with being an athlete.
“THIS IS ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDABLE. In most instances, sport forms the source of most of their opportunities and recognition. Most schools bend over backwards to accommodate their athletes, move tests, assignments, and so forth. And, despite them being recruited into university for their sports, no such academic concessions are made, and it can sometimes cause dissonance.”
GREENWOOD SAYS for most athletes, the light bulb moment could be as simple as a good mark for a test or an assignment.
“That’s when they start to realise that they can succeed on both the field and in the lecture halls,” he says.
WOMEN’S
131
GRADUATES
THE SS4LS ACADEMIC PROGRAMME supports athletes recruited to study at UWC by offering career assessments to help them choose degrees, reviewing their academic results and developing action plans based on their results.“We work with a lot of first-generation students where there
isn’t someone in their family who has studied previously. We provide a lot of help and support, especially in the early phases of making decisions, selecting modules and matching someone to a degree that they are pleased with,” Greenwood says.
“Encouraging students so that they can be involved in sports in many different ways, not only through sports science, is a huge part of what we do,” he says.
STUDENT ATHLETES ARE ENCOURAGED to also look at other degrees that will allow them to follow a career in sport. For example, by studying teaching they can become a coach, studying management can lead to them managing sports teams in future, and psychology can help them become an academic coordinator in sports or provide counselling to athletes.
“THE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS,” elaborates Greenwood. “At UWC, the added hurdles student athletes need to overcome and the time they spend on sports [training] require that we provide specialised support to them. We are constantly striving to improve the services we provide to make students as employable as possible. We do this by collaborating with Coursera and Saylor Academy to upskill a range of both hard and soft skills that we deem critical to their employability. We have a holistic approach when it comes to helping sports students that goes as far as helping them obtain their driver’s licences.”
HE SAYS IT BRINGS HIM GREAT JOY to see “some of our sports students go on to play professionally for Banyana Banyana, the Springboks, and in the Currie Cup and the Super League.
“Athletes at such a high level require a high amount of selfdiscipline and they must be able to apply that self-discipline to their academics and have a solid work ethic in order to go on to achieve a degree,” concludes Greenwood.
THREE UWC STUDENTS are the latest in a long line of UWC Rugby players to sign deals with professional rugby teams. Godfrey Muzanargwo has joined Griquas, Justin ‘Jubba’ Theys signed with Femi-CZ Rovigo (in Italy), and Lukhanyo ‘Boepa’ Vokozela is a newly minted member of the Stormers.
THEIR RISE TO PROFESSIONAL CAREERS is not only typical of the challenges and developmental opportunities of student sport but also reflects the nurturing environment that has been developed over decades by the university’s administrators and coaches.
FRONT ROWER THEYS has been one of the pillars of the UWC pack since joining Udubs six seasons ago and was an integral part of the team that secured promotion to the Varsity Cup in 2019. Ahead of the 2022 pre-season, Theys shifted his focus to improving his conditioning, fitness and overall discipline on the field. It paid off.
After briefly playing for the SWD Eagles Currie Cup team, he joined Israel’s newly formed and first professional side, the Tel Aviv Heat, in March 2022. He played for the Israeli team until the start of the 2023 season when he joined FemiCZ Rovigo.
RECRUITED BY THE LATE CHESTER WILLIAMS in 2016, Theys recalls his first few months at UWC. “At first, I could not believe the legendary Chester Williams would be my coach. I was star-struck at least for a few months into our training programme. Coach Chester was brilliant and truly pivoted my rugby career into an upward trajectory,” says the prop who earned a Diploma in Economic Development from UWC in 2017 and completed a BEd (majoring in English and Life Orientation) in 2022. He is now pursuing an Honours degree.
HOOKER VOKOZELA joined the Udubs family in 2021 to study Social Work and play rugby. However, because he was based in Stellenbosch as part of the SA Rugby Academy squad and missed out on the 2021 Varsity Cup competition, which was played in a bio-bubble in Pretoria at the same time as the SA Rugby Academy squad were training, Vokozela played only one Varsity Cup game for UWC in 2022 against UCT before signing a senior contract with the Stormers. He has since stopped his studies.
“My bursary, which I lost when I was no longer playing for UWC, was linked to me playing,” Vokozela says. “The possibility that I will finish my degree is very low because I want to focus on my rugby career with the Stormers.”
VOKOZELA SAYS HE WAS RECRUITED after he telephoned UWC Young Guns coach Reginald Nutt. Nutt and UWC Rugby Football Club chairperson, Advocate Nicolas Kock, made his move to Bellville possible.
“I am grateful for Coach Reginald and his influence in getting me a bursary to play for UWC,” Vokozela says. “Nic Kock has been such an amazing support to me. I will be eternally grateful to him. He is a genuine and downright great guy, an inspiration to me.”
ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL MUZANARGWO represented the Zimbabwe Sables in 2019 in both Sevens and 15s and was recruited to UWC by Lionel Langenhoven in 2020. Muzanargwo was completing the final year of a Bachelor of Sports and Recreation Studies degree when recruited to the Griquas side.
“I am hoping to finish my studies this year, God willing,” Muzanargwo says. “It is tough to juggle a professional sporting career and
studies, but my team and coaches [at Griquas] support me in this.”
MUZANARGWO JOINED 2022 Currie Cup finalists Griquas in the second half of the 2022 season. The former Prince Edward (Harare) learner will play at lock and as a backup loose forward for the side. His initial season with UWC began with COVID-19 restrictions ending the 2020 Varsity Cup after just six matches but the lock did play in all UWC’s games during the 2021 and 2022 Varsity Cup campaigns. He’s hoping to follow Vokozela and Theys and make his Currie Cup debut this year. “When I got to play for UWC it was always good,” Muzanargwo says. “Playing for UWC is like playing with family. I enjoyed my time playing for UWC.
“I AM GRATEFUL to each and every coach and administrator at UWC,” Muzanargwo adds. “Coach Lionel recruited a few of us [from Zimbabwe] and I am truly grateful for his belief in me and for affording me the opportunity to play and study at UWC. It was a great honour to play for a team like UWC.”
VOKOZELA HIGHLIGHTED the impact of Nicolas Kock and sports administrator Andrew Wrankmore.
“My time at UWC, although brief, was memorable because of guys like Nic and Andrew,” Vokozela says. “Andrew’s help motivated me a lot when it came to my academic commitments.”
FOR THEYS, the significant contributions of UWC coaches Williams, Treu and Langenhoven were key.
“Coach Chester was a huge influence in my rugby career. He helped me realise my potential while Coach Paul nurtured and taught me the importance of my mental aptitude. He knew what it took to get to the top and helped me. A special mention goes to Coach Lionel, who helped me develop and improve my scrum techniques,” Theys says. B+G
Two UWC staffers, Clement Trout and Mncekeleli Sobekwa, have been selected to serve on the national executive committee of the University
10 DANCE
The dance club at the university finished second at the SA Champs, defending the USSA title which they have won several times.
UWC Women’s Football Club reached new heights, finishing second in last year's Hollywoodbets Super League and being ranked seventh in Africa this year.
UWC’s top-quality facilities benefit not just the surrounding communities but South African university sports as well, with the university having hosted three USSA national tournaments last year – dance sport, athletics and swimming.
11
Two UWC rugby players, Lukhanyo Vokozela and Lamla Nunu, were selected for the U20 national rugby team.
12
UWC physiotherapists Wernich Smith and Robyn Phillips were respectively appointed to the staff of SA U20 Rugby and the Western Province’s Stings Netball team.
GREETINGS TO THE UWC SPORTS COMMUNITY and the campus at large. Compliments of the new year and a warm welcome to all first-year students. I hope the journey you are beginning at UWC is full of nothing but positive energy and success in all aspects of your university life. And a big welcome back to all returning students. The UWC Sports Council is quite excited about the year ahead of us. The year
2022 was filled with many lows that we believe were countered by greater highs. We faced many difficulties and challenges but managed to finish the year in a way that surely reflects the perseverance, dedication, determination and fighting spirit of the Sports Council.
THE SPORTS COUNCIL LEADERSHIP accomplished quite a few firsts that are set to reignite the great name and spirit of the UWC Sports Council
and the culture of campus sports and return it to what it once was. The committee accomplished quite extraordinary sports projects on campus in 2022, such as a revival of res league football and netball which ended in an awards ceremony where players received medals and team trophies. There are plans to potentially expand into more sports.
THE MR AND MISS UWC SPORTS COMPETITION saw us crown the athletes who will be the face of UWC Sports during their reigning year. We hosted a first-ever exam preparation event for our student athletes where athletes received words of encouragement from the Director of Sport, Mr Gagayi, and were also given study packs with stationery and notepads to aid them in their exam preparation.
AS WE ENTERED the 2023 academic year, the UWC Sports Council assisted student athletes to get registered and find accommodation, with the assistance of our Director and healthy collaboration with our SRC and CHC.
THE COUNCIL IS QUITE EXCITED about the plans it’s set to launch and achieve in the year to come. Despite a rocky 2022, we foresee a bright 2023. Please check all UWC Sports platforms or follow UWC Sports Council platforms for updates.
MAY THIS BE A YEAR of nothing but excellence in our sports, but also in our lives.
I HOPE THE JOURNEY YOU ARE BEGINNING AT UWC IS FULL OF NOTHING BUT POSITIVE ENERGY AND SUCCESS IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR UNIVERSITY LIFE.
