A HUGE PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOUR

SIHLE MAPHUKATHA, UWC SPORTS COUNCIL, 2021—2022

APPRECIATE THE I OPPORTUNITY granted to be the Chairperson of the UWC Sports Council. It is a huge privilege and honour for me to represent an institution with diverse students coming from different spheres of the world.

THE PAST FEW MONTHS have been bittersweet for UWC Sport as the university was saddened by the passing of UWC Boxing coach Ayanda ‘Ginger’ Mapasa. The champion was laid to rest in his hometown. Thanks to our Director of Sport Mr G and his team, the Sprinter bus that was offered by the Sports Admin enabled students to travel to the Eastern Cape to give their last respects to the man that made a huge difference in our students and his community through sport. May his soul continue to rest in peace. UWC Sport will never forget his strides.

ON THE OTHER HAND, we celebrate several achievements as UWC Sport, starting with our women, including our alumni, who represented the university in the Banyana Banyana colours. As the institution that has been striving and advocating for women to be recognised in sport, this achievement is a true reflection of hard work and resilience against all odds. The university is currently in a partnership with local clubs aiming to uplift and present more opportunities for women in sport. In addition to our five students and head coach who represented us in the Banyana squad that won the WAFCON, three of our players were called up to the Banyana Banyana B team camp in preparation for the COSAFA tournament in Gqeberha.

OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, with our staff, continue to excel beyond expectations and they keep on flying our flag high with pride and integrity. I would like to congratulate our two volleyball players, Mr Lukholo Jooste and Ms Tamlyn Thomas, and head coach Ms Elmien Cloete, who jetted off to Maceió, Brazil, to represent South Africa at the FISU World University Beach Volleyball Championships.

Lonathemba Mhlongo

Kayla Richards

I ALSO CONGRATULATE our women’s football physio, Kayla Richards, who has been appointed as the chief physiotherapist for the CUCSA Games set to take place in Malawi. Finally, I congratulate our karate team, who managed to get eight medals at the regional trials, and our Supa-Pool team who won the USSA Supa-Pool Championships.

IN CONCLUSION, as our Director, Mr G, always emphasises the balance between studies and sport, I would like to urge our students to never forget to put the same effort into their studies. Never forget that ‘Siyafunda, Siyadlala’ and ‘Siyapasa, siyawina’.