How long will cricket still be known as the “Gentleman’s Game”, or is that nickname already a thing of the past? Women’s cricket has grown by leaps and bounds and this trend has continued in 2023 with the ICC Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

The event, which was staged in South Africa, took place at three venues, namely the North-West University Oval (NWU Oval) and the JB Marks Oval – both in Potchefstroom – as well as at Willowmore Park in Benoni.

It is a sizzler of a Thursday afternoon with the mercury as high as load-shedding tempers. However, the team room of the Rugby Institute at the North-West University (NWU) – no, the war room – is cool. A table-sized replica of a rugby field greets you as you enter the room, as does Burger van der Westhuizen, the new Varsity Cup coach for the NWU Eagles.

Another player of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Soccer Institute has been scooped up by a professional team. Tshepiso Mahlangu joined Tuks FC in January 2023.

Tuks FC, a South African Association football club representing the University of Pretoria, currently plays in the National First Division.

Tshepiso, who captained the NWU team during the 2022 Varsity Football tournament is the second Soccer Institute player to be signed by the Pretoria-based team. Thabo Mnyamane joined Tuks FC in 2013.

His name is synonymous with hard defence, smooth skills and an indestructible engine without a reverse gear. Andre Fouché is steel moulded in the forge of the NWU Rugby Institute, and this year his play is the talk of the town.

She is the current, defending and undisputed javelin champion of the North-West University (NWU), and Jo-Ané van Dyk was recently crowned the Potchefstroom Campus Sportswoman of the Year again. This excellent javelin thrower showed her steel on the international stage once more in 2022 when she represented South Africa at the African Games, the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

He is a legend who rewrote the record books. A diehard speed glutton who exhibited his talent on the global stage until he was in his late 30s. Shaun Bownes, the former hurdles champion of the African continent, is carved from granite.

He may not have been able to escape the injuries or stay ahead of Father Time, but heaven knows, he tried. That bald pate of his was a constant on televisions screens.

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles may have been unable to secure a trophy in any of the recently completed Varsity Sports tournaments, but they sure have given a good account of themselves.

They came, they saw and they conquered! They also left our nerves in tatters. On Monday, 10 October, the North-West University (NWU) Eagles stunned defending champions, Kovsies, to advance to the 2022 Varsity Netball finals. 

The Eagles had to muster all their willpower to secure a 64–61 win in Bloemfontein against the same opponents who had beaten them a week before. Coach Elsunet du Plessis would have been worried as the game progressed, with the Eagles only taking the lead for the first time with about ten minutes to go.

The saying goes - cherish the moment, live your dream and play netball. This is precisely what the NWU Eagles netball team is doing.  

They are off to a strong start in the 2022 Varsity Netball campaign by winning all three of their games. 

On Monday, 19 September, bragging rights went to the NWU Eagles yet again, when they defeated the Nelson Mandela University Madibaz by 84-50. 

The NWU Eagles now occupy the first position on the overall log with 15 points. 

North-West University (NWU) coach Karabo Masehela says they are ready to reclaim the Varsity Football cup from the University of Johannesburg when they meet in the semi-final at the UJ Stadium on 15 September 2022.

“UJ beat us in the fifth round-robin game of Varsity Football by two goals to one, and my boys are ready to go all out to take revenge for this loss.

“Once beaten, twice shy... we are going out there to reclaim what is ours,” says coach Karabo.