Members of the action netball team on the campus in Vanderbijlpark are Anina Marx, Anita Lennox, Estie Lubbe, Monique du Plessis, Jackie Bonnema and Celeste van der Sandt. (Celeste is the only player who is not an NWU staff member and helps out whenever she is needed.)
These staff members on the campus in Potchefstroom agree that the beautiful game of soccer can promote a healthy lifestyle. In the back are Tom Mosiane (coordinator), Stefan Linde, Jabulani Maswanganye, Odirile Mosiane, Khotso Tefo and Dumisani Makhoba (captain). In front are Dumelang Borre, Samuel Mamathuntsha, Moss Letswenyo, Tswakae Sebotsa and Itumeleng Sengati (secretariat).
Shooting to win . . . Staff members on the netball team in Mahikeng are Catarina Magqoki (captain), Delika Leotwane, Madira Manganyi, Anna Moraba, Bonolo Kgosiemang, Keabetswe Mathiba, Lesego Nchupetsang, Tsholofelo Phetlhu and Kealeboga Malotwane. (Team members who are not in this picture are Lebo Mgiba,Tshepi Molemane and Thulaganyo Lenewa.)
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are all about action
For the NWU’s staff members, the adage that all work and no play makes Jack or Jill a dull boy or girl rings true.
Physical exercise coupled with the camaraderie of a team environment elevates the eight-to-five workday to a competitive adventure. Examples abound across the NWU.
On the campus in Mahikeng netball is thriving among staff members. After shooting to win, the Mafikeng staff netball team were crowned champions of the Southern African Universities Staff Sports Association (SAUSSA) tournament held at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape from 11 to 16 December 2017.
The team’s road to the 2017 championship included beating Sefako Makgatho University by 58 goals to 3, University of Zambia by 58-9, Unisa by 46-4, University of Namibia by 39-24 and Walter Sisulu University by 48-24. In the final against Unisa, the NWU team won by 38 goals to 15.
“It’s an honour to be crowned the champions of the 2017 SAUSSA tournament. We are looking forward to defending the trophy in 2018. We further want to encourage all interested staff members of the NWU who wish to join the staff club to contact me,” says Eugenia March, NWU Staff Sports Club public relations officer.
Being on the ball
On the campus in Potchefstroom, Hilton Visagie, Aubrey Fransman and Leon Danster decided that the best way to promote a healthy lifestyle is through the beautiful game. According to Leon, an administrative assistant for the Unit for Continuing Education, the idea of forming a football team for staff members came to fruition in August 2017. “Currently we have about 30 to 35 active members and the response from support and academic staff alike has been fantastic.”
Team spirit is high, he says: “Soccer is one of those games almost everyone can play. We are a diverse group with great coaches. Before practice we all share a few jokes and we bond on so many levels. We learn from each other, we learn about each other’s culture and we help each other. It is a wonderful experience.”
Aiming high
On the campus in Vanderbijlpark, Anita Lennox and Monique du Plessis are proving that life is anything but dull. When they aren’t busy lecturing or conducting research on economics or accounting, they are giving it their all on the netball court. These two academics, respectively from the School of Management Sciences and the School of Accounting Sciences, are members of the Team X-treme action netball team.
It would seem that their passion for sport is paying dividends since several of their academic colleagues on the campus have joined them on the action netball court.
They started out in the sixth league, but have worked themselves up to the top league. “The first league is very competitive,” says Anita, adding that they originally asked to be in a lower league since they play for the love of the game and the strong spirit of camaraderie among them. The group have been playing netball together since 2015.