Madibaz Sport director Yoliswa Lumka will have a critical role to play when she acts as chef de mission for two South African student-athlete teams to compete in 2021.
Madibaz Sport director Yoliswa Lumka has been appointed chef de mission for the World Student Games and the CUCSA Games next year. Photo: Supplied
After heading the delegation for the World Student Games in Chengdu, China, in August, she will take charge of the national squad for the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations (CUCSA) Games in Lesotho in December.
Lumka said they were keen to do well after the Covid-19 pandemic halted nearly all university sport this year.
“We have some of the athletes who were with us in Italy [for the 2019 World Student Games] who won a variety of medals and they will be aiming to defend their titles.”
Having that talent available, she said, would help them to try to achieve their objectives.
“We finished 10th in Italy and we want to match or better that in China.”
The Madibaz Sport boss said it was also a feather in the cap for the Port Elizabeth university for their staff to gain recognition at a higher level.
“It means we are moving in the right direction and that our student-athletes are supported by well-trained experts in their specific fields.”
She said the World Student Games represented the highest pinnacle a student-athlete could achieve.
“We regard them as our student Olympic Games and, as universities in South Africa, we need to give the young men and women the platform to showcase their talents and achieve their dreams.
“It will be an honour to represent Madibaz as an ambassador on the national and international stage and we will do our best to make the country proud.”