CPUT Coach elected as USSA Table Tennis chairperson

Marasi, who hails from Ezibeleni, Komani, in the Eastern Cape, said he felt humbled and honoured to be nominated for the position and to be representing CPUT at national level.

“I won my first gold medal in 1999 at the SASSU (SA Student Sports Union) Games and ever since then I’ve been a coach/manager/mentor for CPUT Table Tennis on a voluntary basis until I was formally appointed last year.”

His role as USSA table tennis chairperson will be to lead and manage all table tennis activities at university level.

Marasi said the role would also include ensuring that the status of table tennis is elevated from being a recreational sport to being a competitive sport that produces champions to represent the country at national, continental and international level.

Furthermore, his role would be to assemble, manage and prepare a team that will represent South Africa at the World Student Games in 2023. “Our role at university level is to nurture and develop table tennis to be a sport of choice and [for it to be] treated on the same level as popular sports like football, rugby, soccer and netball. My role is to develop a sport-orientated university community that shows interest in table tennis and balance their time wisely with their academic commitment. We encourage more women participation and involvement in the sport.”

He said strong bonds needed to be formed with local table tennis clubs and federations and good relationships had to be established with the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB).

“Table Tennis is a great sport that helps and contributes to one’s health. It should be played at school, at work, in churches and at all recreational facilities. Creating a healthy sporting nation, will help decrease the level of crime, take kids out of drugs, decrease the high teenage pregnancy rate and also helps kids at school with a healthy body and mind. Only then, academic excellency will be guaranteed.”

Marasi is a father of two daughters, Kamo and Uzuko and describes himself as a change agent.

CPUT Table Tennis coach, Mfundo Marasi, was recently elected as the chairperson of University Sports South Africa (USSA) Table Tennis.

“I’m a mentor, leader, an optimist by birth, a traditional healer, who is proud of his Xhosa culture. I’m a multi-talented child of God who plays and manages the following sports: rugby, football, athletics, hiking, table tennis and karate. I’m an international volunteer who prides himself about encouraging and promoting the spirit of giving back to my community without expectations.”

He said he would give his all to his new role.

“Many thanks and appreciation to Mr Mohamed Ally for his support thus far and ensuring CPUT management endorsed and supported my nomination He said he would give his best to represent my CPUT and serve all institutions with humility, pride and distinction.

We

My name is Mfundo Lee Marasi, mentor, manager, father of 2 girls: Uzuko & Kamogelo kafile and a CPUT Table Tennis coach. I was born & bred at Ezibeleni Komani and I’m currently residing in the Western Cape due to work commitment.

QWhat is your coaching philosophy/How do you go about coaching the CPUT Table Tennis?

• Firstly, we allow our players to be themselves & appreciate the talent they have on the sport. I create a safe & a supportive, yet challenging environment that allows them to thrive while enjoying their God given talent.

• We build trust between player & coach, as the programme we provide them ensure they believe & trust in themselves on the Table

Unlocking potential: through our programme, we help a player to understand the incredible potential they have on the sport & beyond Table Tennis. Developing & nurturing talent is our main objective through understanding their strength & challenges, and help them

• Creating commitment: allowing players to commit into a training programme, honouring matches & commit to representing the team with pride.

• Executing goals: allow players to develop and set achievable goals, both in the sport and in their academic life. Support my players in every way possible in order for them to achieve their goals

QWhat have been the highlights for 2022?

The year 2022 has been a challenging but yet, productive and successful year for the CPUT Table Tennis family. We started the year with a small group with only few female players and embarked on a recruitment drive where we managed to recruit about 5 female players. It wasn’t easy as 3 of the female players were doing their inservice training and that left us with only 2 committed female players while we had about 10 Male players. We ended up with 8 committed players that worked with the team.

The following were the little gains/wins for the CPUT Table Tennis family:

• I was reappointed as the CPUT Table Tennis coach and I am committed to serving CPUT and continue to develop champions for my University

• Ms Genevieve Lentz became the 1st African black female to be the Deputy Referee for the Tokyo Olympics 2021

• Ms Genevieve Lentz attended the World ITTF Youth Championships, Portugal as a Deputy Tournament Referee, 2021

• Ms Anande Kuse (1st year Film production student) made it to the Provincial Cape Town Table Tennis Team to represent the province at the National Games in October 2022

Table Tennis coach…

• I, Mfundo Lee Marasi was elected as the USSA Table Tennis National Chairperson, at an USSA Table Tennis AGM, July 2022

• CPUT scoops Gold at the WC Inter-Tertiary League 2022. A pilot programme where 4 Western Cape Tertiary institutions competed on a 1-leg league championship, Aug – Oct 2022

• Ms Genevieve Lentz & Ms Anande Kuse represented Cape Town Table Tennis at the SATTB National Championships, 02nd – 08th Oct 2022, Durban, South Africa.

• Ms Anande Kuse wins Silver Medal, u/19 Team events category at the SATTB Championships, Durban 2022.

• Ms Genevieve Lentz flew the CPUT & South African flag sky high at the ITTF Valuejet Lagos Para Open, 2022 in Nigeria as a Deputy ITTF Referee.

We’re so super proud of CPUT Table Tennis family that continues to fly the Institutions flag sky high and being proud CPUT Ambassadors in the Table Tennis International community.

QWhere do you see CPUT Table Tennis in the future?

The future for CPUT Table Tennis looks bright & we hope to produce more champions, have strong representation in the Provincial team as well as having more CPUT players having national colours. In 2023, we’ve got about 7 Gr12 learners with provincial & National colours coming to study at CPUT. They all want to be part of the winning CPUT Table Tennis team while they pursue their academic goals through CPUT. We’re so proud to be recognised by learners as early as Gr10, who see themselves being part of CPUT and also further their Table Tennis career through CPUT Table Tennis.

QAny additional comments

I want to thank my players for believing in the vision and ensuring we achieve it as a Team. Your commitment and service to CPUT Table Tennis is commendable and thank you for representing CPUT with pride and excellence. I also want to thank CPUT Sport Management, Mr. Ally & Ms Mangiagalli for their support, we wouldn’t achieve so much if it wasn’t for their support & belief to the vision that I have for CPUT Table Tennis. I also want to thank Mr. Maseko from the Advancement department through the Alumni office, your support and always willing to help Alumni is highly appreciated. We’re #CPUT ambassadors and we’ll continue to bring medals and represent our University with pride and excellence.