Sol Plaatje University hosts its first major sporting event

Sol Plaatje University (SPU) successfully hosted the University Student Sports Association (USSA) Rugby Sevens Championship games at the Windhoek Draught Park and SPU Sports Precinct in Kimberley on 24 and 25 September 2022.

Leading up to the games, a Campus Night Race was held on 20 September 2022 and, a dazzling Official Opening Ceremony of Teams on 23 September 2022 when South African university students  as well as BOTESSA students from Botswana, paraded in their team regalia at the SPU Central Campus Quad. The teams were led by the exciting and vibrant SPU Cheerleading squad, welcoming the teams.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of SPU, Prof Andrew M. Crouch officially opened the USSA Rugby 7s Championship. “SPU is hosting USSA Rugby Sevens Championship for the first time. We are elated as this is progressive for SPU and the province at large,” he said.

Spectators were cheerful as they were entertained by the Batswana Dance Group that also performed to officially welcome all universities and stakeholders to Kimberley. The two-day Rugby Sevens championship tournament was divided into two sections for the women’s and men’s 7s games. The A section with four pools of three teams each, while the B section has two pools of four teams each. SPU’s 7s team was in the B section and won as they played against North West University’s Mafikeng team. They also played against the University of the Western Cape but did not win the game. In the men’s section, the SPU men’s rugby team outdid themselves with a win against Botswana Tertiary Student Sport Association (BOTESSA) in the semi-finals but fell short of a win against Walter Sisulu University. The men’s team also secured a win against the University of Limpopo winning with a score of 21/12 in the semi-final games on Sunday, 25 September 2022. The overall champion in the women’s section is Stellenbosch University in their final match against the University of Pretoria. In the men’s section, North West University’s Potchefstroom team claimed the championship title after defeating University of Western Cape.

An exciting Official Closing Ceremony was held on Sunday evening, 25 September 2022 at the SPU South Campus Hall, to officiate the end of the Rugby Sevens games. Speaking at the closing ceremony was the Chairperson of USSA, Mr Bongo Nontshinga said, “We are eternally grateful for the warm welcome of the host university, SPU, for receiving us so well. All departments and stakeholders that made the event possible, we thank you all for your hard work. To the students, if it was not for your love and passion for the sport, none of this would be possible. We are truly grateful. What a week it has been. Thank you!”

SPU Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Crouch thanked all students and stakeholders for their continuous support and officially declared the USSA Rugby Sevens Championship closed. “Even though the games are quick, we must not undermine the amount of training it takes, it is the technical team as well as the athletes’ dedication and perseverance that make all this possible. Continue to be the pride of your institutions but ultimately the pride of the nation as sport can bring people together and has a big role to play in nation building.”

SPU extends its gratitude to USSA, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and all stakeholders for making this event possible.

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