2024 INTERCAMPUS SPORT DAY

Lesiba Dikhoba and Atlegang Dube

@lesiba.dikhoba and n/a

 

Potchefstroom was the host campus for this year’s Intercampus Sport Day, which took place on 17 August. The Fanie du Toit sportsground had an electric atmosphere as teams from the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, and Vanderbijlpark campuses faced off in a thrilling inter-campus showdown. 

 

The day’s rugby matches were closely contested, with Potchefstroom prevailing in both their encounters. In the first match, Potchefstroom narrowly overcame Mafikeng 27-24 in a game that displayed the commitment and skill of both teams. The second Potchefstroom team clinched a hard-fought 26-25 victory against Vaal, cementing the host campus’s dominance on the field.

 

Shingi Nyangani, Vanderbijlpark coach, expressed satisfaction with his players’ efforts despite the close loss. “I think the boys were very physical today. They showed a lot of heart, which is all I asked for,” Nyangani said. “For a group that hasn’t played together for a very long time, just getting it together was a challenge, but they pulled through and showed a lot of character. I’m very proud of them.”

 

When asked about the rivalry between campuses, Nyangani acknowledged the competitive spirit that comes with inter-campus matches. “I think when we get on the field, everybody wants to win, so there is a sense of rivalry,” he noted. “Nobody wants to lose, so emotions started flaring up. But that’s a good thing because it shows how much the game matters to the players.”

 

Mitch Coetzee, Potchefstroom coach, was equally pleased with his team’s performance, particularly their defensive efforts. “For a team that came together this morning, I’m actually quite impressed with how the defence was,” Coetzee remarked. “We came in just to enjoy the games, and despite the challenges of assembling the team with little practice time, the boys delivered on the field.”

 

Despite the narrow loss to Potchefstroom, Mafikeng coach Tlamelo OSS saw promise in his team’s performance, particularly from their first-year players. “The performance was actually quite good today. We brought most of our first-year players, and for their first game, they showed some heart and grit,” OSS said.

 

The Intercampus Sport Day chess tournament, held at the Alumni Hall, saw intense rivalry between the Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, and Vaal campuses, with Potchefstroom dominating in both the men’s and women’s categories. The Potchefstroom men’s team secured the top spot with a total of 10 points, winning all their games against Mafikeng and Vaal. In the women’s division, Potchefstroom also claimed first place with 10 points, showcasing their consistency across all boards. Vaal took second place in both divisions, while Mafikeng finished third.

 

Lian Bezuidenhout, a standout player for Potch, reflected on his experience after winning his match against Mafikeng’s men’s player. He acknowledged the tough competition, noting that while the game was a grind, he felt confident throughout. 

 

“It was tough, but I knew I was winning for most of the game,” he said. Lian emphasised the importance of the Inter-Campus Day as valuable preparation for upcoming major events like USSA’s, and highlighted the camaraderie among the players, who share a strong bond despite the competitive atmosphere.

 

The day ended with live performances and a great atmosphere at the Fanie du Toit sportsgrounds. 

 

Edited by Christinet Zaal