The North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute will be represented by seven players and its head coach at the 2026 Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) Games after they were selected for the South African university football team.
The seven players selected are Aphelele Sibisi, Xolani Masethi, Lucky Letwaba, Thapelo Letsholonyane, Thiko Magada, Lucas Seromo and Reatlegile Kgosithebe. They are currently attending the University Sports South Africa (USSA) national football training camp, hosted at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus from 25 to 27 June, before departing for Gaborone in Botswana, where the CUCSA Games will take place from 28 June to 5 July. The games bring together university student-athletes from across southern Africa to compete in eight sporting codes.
Adding to the representation from the university, NWU Soccer Institute head coach Nkululeko Malgas has been appointed head coach of the South African men's football team. The appointment comes weeks after he led the NWU team to promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, continuing a successful period for the football programme at the university.
Coach Malgas said the selection of seven players reflects the standard of football being developed at the Soccer Institute and the commitment shown by the players throughout the season.
"Having seven players selected to represent South Africa is a proud achievement for the Soccer Institute and the university. It is recognition of the hard work the players have invested over the past season and demonstrates that our programme continues to produce footballers capable of competing at the highest university level," he said.
He added that hosting the national training camp at the NWU further demonstrates the standing of the university in university football.
"Hosting the USSA national training camp at our campus is another vote of confidence in our football programme. We are grateful for the opportunity to prepare the national team, and we look forward to representing South Africa with pride at the CUCSA Games. Our objective is to compete well and make the country proud."
The selection of the seven players follows another landmark year for the NWU Soccer Institute. Earlier this month, the university secured promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship after winning the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs, underlining the strength of its football development pathway.
The CUCSA Games are held every two years and provide student-athletes with an opportunity to represent their countries while competing against leading universities from across southern Africa. The 2026 edition, hosted in Gaborone, is expected to attract approximately 1 200 athletes from nine countries competing in athletics, basketball, chess, football, netball, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.
For the seven NWU players, the tournament presents another opportunity to showcase their abilities on the regional stage while wearing South African colours. For the university, it marks another milestone in its growing contribution to university and national football.
Lucky Ledwaba
6 Selected NWU Soccer Institute Players
