The North-West University (NWU) hosted the SASCOCHigh Performance Indaba at the Sports Village between 9 and 11 February 2022. SASCOC used this strategic planning session to review the performance of the Olympic and other elite teams over the past five years, and finalise a strategic plan for the next few Olympic cycles. The NWU was represented by the Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP); its UK-based partner, Cognacity; the High Performance Institute; NWU Sport; the PhASRec (NWU Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation) research focus area, as well as the NWU Sports Village. Sheldon Rostron (Director: NWU Sport) acted as facilitator. Prof Pieter Kruger (Director: CHHP) made presentations to the SASCOC delegation about international best practices and a multi-disciplinary solution that will render evidence-based sport-scientific and support services to elite athletes, teams and coaches in a holistic manner and should lead to an optimum performance at the Olympic Games.

Prof Daryl Balia, Deputy-Vice Chancellor: IT and Potchefstroom Campus Operations, welcomed the SASCOC delegation and assured them that the NWU was more than able and willing to support our national teams and empower them to be able to compete with the best athletes and teams in the world, and make South Africa proud. He confirmed that the NWU was serious about creating an ethic of care environment – and would be able to do the same for our elite athletes.

“Welcome to Potch, this is our base, this is our town,” said the executive mayor of the JB Marks Local Municipality, Councillor Gaba KaQuele. “We pride ourselves on being a city that is developing into a major player and we take a lot of interest in sport. We really appreciate SASCOC being here, and being here to work with us and also to offer guidance in other areas. Sport has many spinoffs, some of them economic, and we have a strong relationship with SASCOC.

“SASCOC is a special stakeholder in our vision for our city and it is thanks to them that Potch was chosen as the city, and North-West University as the venue, to hold such important strategy sessions that will have an impact on the future of sport.”

In his acknowledgement of the executive mayor’s visit, the president of SASCOC, Mr Barry Hendricks, said: “Thank you for the hospitality you have shown us, thank you for coming to this important workshop. To the university and to the people who helped to make this workshop a reality, a big thank you as well.

“This workshop is all about taking South African sport to the next level and it is all happening in your city. It is all good news and you are part of history. While there are stakeholders present here in this university, others have also joined us virtually, contributing immensely to the way forward in South African sport.”

Included in the SASCOC delegation at the workshop, apart from its president, were the second vice-president Debbie Alexander and board members Kim Pople and Khotso Mokoena, who is also the chair of the Athletes’ Commission.

As one walks around the impressive facilities of North-West University, there is also reminders everywhere about the excellence that has passed through the facilities. Signed team shirts in frames are on the walls and, taking pride of place in the room where the SASCOC High Performance Indaba was taking place, are personally signed framed photos of the players from Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.

Spain was based at the North-West University during the 2010 World Cup … they went on to lift the most prestigious trophy in this sport.

At the back is: Prof Pieter Kruger, Patricia Mtshali, Kim Pople, Barry Hendriks, Gareth Brown, Khotso Mokoena, Prof Hanlie Moss and Sheldon Rostron. In the front is Leon Fleischer, Nozipho Jafta, Gaba kaQhele and Dr Debbie Alexander.