BUILDING TEAM MORALE USSA ORGANISES STAFF SPORT

BY LYNDON JULIUS

IN 2019, UNIVERSITY SPORTS SOUTH AFRICA (USSA) launched a national USSA Staff sports programme and tournament to enable university staff members to build team morale and compete with their peers. The staff made a promising start according to Busisiwe ‘Bubbles’ Mzalazala, a placement coordinator at UWC’s Residential Services, who runs the Staff Sports programme. UWC staff did well at the inaugural USSA Staff tournament, with the UWC football and netball teams excelling.

Mzalazala says: “After enjoying reasonable provincial preparation [against Western Cape universities], the UWC football and netball teams represented UWC at the inaugural USSA National Staff Sports tournament hosted at the Durban University of Technology.

UWC staff did well at the tournament, with the UWC football and netball teams excelling.

BUSISIWE ‘BUBBLES’ MZALAZALA

“THE FOOTBALL TEAM reached the finals and the netball team acquitted themselves with dedication. Both teams flew the UWC flag high and, after participating in this tournament, interest in the sports programme at UWC grew and continued until it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We recently restarted the project since returning to work and the programme is growing each day. Volleyball and a Super-Pool team have been introduced and joined our football and netball teams at the USSA Staff Sports games hosted at Rhodes University at the end of September.”

MZALAZALA ADDS: “In the last event we hosted at the UWC Netball Courts on 9 August in celebrating Women’s Day, we had 15 staff members participate. We had a friendly match with our six different residential teams, including private accommodation. The aim was to build the relationship with our students as it was the first time meeting them since the national lockdown was eased up.”

CURRENTLY, the UWC Staff Sports Programme has 25 netball participants, the football group has about 30 active members and the newly added codes, Supa-Pool and volleyball, are gaining momentum among staff.

“The intention is to expand and not be limited to only these sports codes. The programme is intended to run wellness initiatives during the year with different wellness programmes. We have Mxolisi Nxumalo and Sandile Ndumo heading up the football with Ebrian Johnson doing an excellent job as the netball coach. Margo Daniels and Elmien Cloete will be coaching and in charge of volleyball.

WHILE THE PROGRAMME initially existed to foster relationships among students and staff members, mental health has become a priority as well.

“Mental health is not just a contentious issue at the university level but in every household,” Mzalazala says. “I think, after these past two years, mental health is a real issue.

“THIS PROGRAMME is a tool to work on these issues and we can successfully address these issues through sport. Our university lost several staff members due to COVID-19, and finding others who were also [similarly] affected helps to work through the trauma.” B+G