Sport

Data analytics drives modern talent scouting at NWU Soccer Institute

The landscape of football talent identification is being transformed by data analytics, and the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Soccer Institute at the Mahikeng Campus is positioning itself at the forefront of this high-tech evolution.

According to Upidkumar Patel, the institute's head of performance and data analysis, leveraging modern data is key to unearthing the stars of tomorrow.

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Eagles soar in Bloemfontein with a convincing comeback victory

In an energetic round one clash of the 2026 Varsity Cup, the NWU Eagles delivered a statement performance in the City of Roses, overpowering CUT 59-42. Played at the CUT Stadium, the fixture saw the hosts desperate to overturn their recent poor results against the Purple Army, including a previous loss at the 2025 USSA Games.

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Cricket dreams take flight for Vanderbijlpark Campus duo

Two North-West University (NWU) Vanderbijlpark Campus students have made their mark on the national cricket scene, proudly representing the Sedibeng District at the CSA Senior Inland Rural Week 2025 in Mpumalanga.

Brian Kubayi (22), an honours degree student in Public Governance and Sports Portfolio member of the Student Campus Council (SCC), and Nkosinathi Tshabalala (20), a second-year BA Education student, stood out from a fiercely competitive selection process to join a 14-member squad, facing off against the top rural cricket talent of the country.

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Varsity Cup opener reignites rivalry

The 2026 Varsity Cup will kick off with a highly competitive opening fixture, with previous seasons having delivered drama, late winners and high scores. On Monday 16 February, the FNB NWU Eagles will take on the CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein in a clash that has become a seasonal highlight.

The Eagles will face a determined CUT side eager to bounce back after their crushing 117-19 defeat at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom in 2025.

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NWU players power Sedibeng to unbeaten national netball title

North-West University (NWU) students played a role in the outstanding performance of Sedibeng Netball at the 2025 SPAR National Netball Championships, where the district team finished unbeaten and claimed the B3 section title.

The Netball South Africa-sanctioned tournament was hosted by the Ekurhuleni District at Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen in Boksburg and featured district teams from across the country.

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The All Blacks are coming, and so are the bucks!

It’s been 30 years since the New Zealand All Blacks last toured South Africa for a traditional rugby test series, but 2026 will see the old foes meet for three tests in the Republic and one abroad.

For rugby fans at home and in the Land of the Long White Cloud, The Greatest Rivalry Tour – which includes provincial matches between the All Blacks and the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions – is the stuff dreams are made of.

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Olympic champions flock to Potchefstroom for altitude and facilities

While Europe is in the icy grip of winter, athletes are sharpening their form in Potchefstroom, drawn by the altitude, climate and a high-performance sport hub that has quietly become a base for Olympic gold medallists.

Members of the Netherlands’ Olympic gold-winning 4x400 m mixed relay team, including Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink, are among the international athletes currently training at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) High-Performance Institute (HPI).

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Vanderbijlpark Campus honours sports excellence at 2025 Annual Sports Awards

The Tsebonokeng Hall at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) radiated with pride and celebration as the institution hosted its prestigious 2025 Annual Sports Awards ceremony.

Themed “Celebrating Excellence, Honour, and Legacy in Sport,” the evening served as a grand recognition of the remarkable achievements, resilience and unity that have defined the NWU sporting community throughout the year.

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