The Durban University of Technology’s Midlands and Durban campuses recorded massive successes in the sports arena during the 2017 academic year.
The netball team clinched the KZN University Sports South Africa (USSA) League by unleashing a reign of terror to all its opponents. DUT thumped other fierce campaigners in the region such as UKZN and emerged victorious. They were notable players in the seven teams’ tournament who carried DUT’s hopes on their shoulders such as Amanda Ntshangase and Nomcebo Nkosi. These players were instrumental throughout the tournament netting 19 and 7 goals apiece sealing a comfortable victory for the netball side.
Sport Officer at Midlands campus, Michael Mbatha was ecstatic at the recent achievements by DUT sports, saying 2017 was an eventful year for almost every sporting code. “Besides our netball team doing well, our male Basketball team won the EThekwini Basketball League. The under-21 women football team finished sixth in the KZN Sasol League which has a total of 16 teams. Our ballroom dance also did outstandingly well. We also have a couple of our players that will be taking part in the SALGA games,” said Mbatha.
Mbatha added that the male football team was also proving to be an indomitable force in the SAB League recording 4 wins and six games that they have played so far. He however decried the scarcity of sporting facilities at DUT, explaining that this state of affairs thwarted their progress.
“We have confidence that by next year things would improve in our sporting facilities. We also want to start 2018 in full swing building from our 2017 achievements. Our teams are currently preparing themselves for the Inter-Varsity Sports Day which will be held next year at UKZN Edgewood Campus. Our ambition for next year is to make a mark in all sporting codes,” said Mbatha.
Early this month, Mbatha was elected to serve on the Appeals Board for Anti-Drugs in Sport of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport.
Head of Department for DUT’s Department of Sport Administration, Bongani Yengwa echoed Mbatha’s sentiments heaping praises to DUT teams for a job well done. “Within our Durban campus, most sporting codes performed well this include, Cricket, Hockey, Chess, Squash, Aerobics, Football and Netball. We also participated for the first time in sailing and we also introduced boxing as a competitive sport. For 2017, About 1652 students actively participated in sports,” said Yengwa.
He added that two players were selected for the women and men South African national team and represented South Africa abroad. The male footballer is currently on a football tour in Cape Town where they are lined up to play a couple of friendlies with local teams such to prepare themselves for 2018.
Yengwa also received recognition for his dedication to uplifting university sports. He was subsequently elected to serve on the University Sports South Africa (USSA) executive committee.
Pictured: DUT Ballroom Dance students during the National Dance Week competition held at Walter Sisulu University. DUT came 2nd out of 18 universities participating.
Sandile Motha
