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UPGRADED FACILITIES ENCOURAGE HIGH PERFORMANCE
BY BUNTU GOTYWA
SPORT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE in the lives of many individuals across the globe with few things impacting as much in promoting unity, good health and nation-building. The University of Western Cape has strategically invested in developing and upgrading sports facilities and improving academic support to talented sportspeople on campus. The recently completed R30 million revamp of the institution’s sports complex forms part of the plan to offer one of the best sporting environments available at higher education institutions today.
THE MAJOR CHANGES include a high-performance gym and upgraded athletics track that now qualifies to host big events such as the SA championships. The old athletics track had served for at least 26 years before the upgrade. Glen Bentley, UWC Sport Administration Support Services Manager, says the track has a lifespan of about 12 years and met current international standards for competition. “Having a high-performance facility for our athletes in close proximity becomes a one-stop-shop that allows them to give out as little energy and time as possible while in the same breath delivering at their academic spaces as well,” says Bentley.
A MAJOR ADDITION to the new facilities is the Venue Operations Centre (VOC), which makes it easier to host medium-risk events. The VOC can host personnel from the police, disaster management and the medical team. There is a VIP area for hosting sponsors and potential partner institutions.
UWC HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVED to be very competitive in different disciplines. Their gold colours are easy to spot and constantly feature on the podium at sporting events around the country, with some athletes going abroad to raise not only the university flag but that of South Africa.
Twenty-year-old sprint sensation Luke Davids, who won gold in the 100m at the 2018 Youth Olympics, was overjoyed to see the new and improved athletics track.
He says, “It means a lot to us athletes, you know. Now we can enjoy what we do even more knowing we have the proper facilities and equipment to bring out the best performance in us.
“As athletes and coaches, we made do with what we had, [which] wasn’t much but we made the best of it. Now that we have everything we need, I’m looking forward to seeing how we improve in the future,” says Davids.
OUR 3000M STEEPLECHASE SPECIALIST, Ashley Smith, says the upgrades are a wonderful sight given the depth of sporting talent that UWC boasts. He says the institution has produced great athletes and having the new multipurpose facility will make it much easier for the upcoming generation to excel in their chosen fields.
IN LINE WITH THE INSTITUTION’S GOAL of being the university of choice for athletes, the facilities will be made available to the surrounding communities and schools of the Western Cape.
UDUBS HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED good working relations with schools in the Western Cape and with the upgrade completed, athletes are assured many sporting opportunities on campus.
Bentley stressed that while athletes strive to become the best and the athletes have been given the best facilities possible to do so, this did not take anything away from the primacy of their academic work.
“They are competitive and we compete with the best teams in South Africa. Having the best facilities just enhances the competitor that you are.
“It’s all about the athletes achieving their full potential and achieving even beyond that if possible,” he says.
UWC WANTS TO BUILD A STRONG ALUMNI GROUP OF ATHLETES who will be proud of their colours and assist other alumni to transition into the working world.
The sporting facility has cricket, football and rugby fields. More than 20 sporting codes will now be calling the new state-of-the art Sports Centre their home. And the upgraded fields even have the potential to host National First Division football matches.
“We need to be this machine that is constantly running and improving. That will allow us to also make a huge contribution to South African sport in the broader scheme of things,” says Bentley. B+G
