Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

University Sport South Africa is gearing up for the Federation of African University Sports (Fasu) Games scheduled for Kampala, Uganda, next month.

Glen Bentley, USSA president, said they were impressed with their preparations for the biennial continental multi-sport championships.

"Our teams are busy with the training programmes. The plan is to go out there in Kampala to defend the title we won in Tshwane two years ago," he said.

"We are taking a big squad to Kampala. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that university sports grows in leaps and bounds on the continent.

"For us the Fasu Games plays a significant role in preparing the athletes for big competitions like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games.

"We also use competitions like the Fasu Games to expose our students to international sports. We are proud of the role played by our structure in South Africa. Big names like Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Hezekiel Sepeng, Frantz Kruger, Poppy Mlambo, Lydia Monyepao and Nandipha Mlomo are some of our products.

"We want to continue with the good job as we have been doing in producing quality sportsmen and women."

Bentley said the Kampala-bound team will consist of 180 members, with Capetonian Ilhaam Groenewald the head of delegation.

"South Africa will compete in athletics, swimming, badminton, chess, soccer (men and women), judo, table tennis, tennis and volleyball (men and women)."

Malumbete Ralethe, Federation of International University Sports board member, said: "We are getting a positive response from Uganda regarding the preparations."