ACADEMICS AND SPORT BALANCING

BY JOSHUA HENDRICKS

LEANDRO DE SOUSA, a Motsepe Foundation Championship (formerly National First Division) footballer with Pretoria Callies, is a testament to the fusion of academic dedication and sporting prowess at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The Capetonian’s journey exemplifies resilience, seizing opportunities and the transformative power of education.

DE SOUSA EMPHASISES THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS alongside sporting achievements. “I was taught from a young age to make sure I did well academically as well as on the sports field,” he says. And after graduating with a bachelor of commerce degree, he is now pursuing a postgraduate degree in finance.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES UWC’S ROLE IN SHAPING HIS ACADEMIC AND SPORTING TRAJECTORY.

“Without UWC, I wouldn’t be here today,” he says. “I got my degree, which is the most important thing as it allowed me to get a job in corporate. This allowed me to chase my dreams without having the added pressure of worrying about how much a club would pay me.”

FROM GRASSROOTS CLUBS TO SEMIPROFESSIONAL STINTS with Ajax Cape Town and FN Rangers, De Sousa encountered setbacks and rejections. It was UWC’s sports platforms, notably Varsity Football and University Sports South Africa, that provided invaluable visibility for his footballing aspirations, and it was through them that Pretoria Callies spotted his talent and catapulted him into the professional football arena.

IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SUPPORT, De Sousa says UWC gave him a sense of social consciousness and community engagement. One of his favourite moments while playing for the varsity team was scoring the winner in the last minutes of a game against North-West University in 2019. “The goal wasn’t the best but it was really meaningful as it was around the time of the genderbased violence protests and we as a team dedicated that win towards the cause.”

FOR ASPIRING STUDENT ATHLETES AT UWC, De Sousa offers advice on building supportive networks and effective communication with lecturers. He says balancing academics and sport requires meticulous planning and collaboration. “In particular for student athletes at UWC, I would say it is important to build a good network of people who are doing the same modules as you,” he says.

“MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE BUSY AT TRAINING OR TRAVELLING and we do not have time to attend all our lectures and tutorials. This network can help you to keep in the know and give you those tips that you miss when not attending classes. Also, the first thing I do and I recommend all student athletes to do is to communicate with your lecturer. Explain your situation from the beginning so certain provisions can be made throughout the semester.”