Registration week held by Wits Sports aims to help clubs get more recruits in an effort to solve funding problems.
For the first time, Wits Sports has held a second semester drive for club registration as sports clubs plead to get more recruits on their teams.Recreational and competitive clubs under the sporting administration have been battling to fund themselves and have relied on sign-ups to keep themselves alive.
Despite achievements with some clubs which include Fencing, ultimate Frisbee, as well as Water polo, these sports clubs have struggled to gain the reputation they need as funds are not sufficient enough.
Water polo chairperson Caitlyn O’Shaughnessy, told Wits Vuvuzela that despite the ladies water polo team being number one in the province, this aquatics club has had to sustain themselves financially. “We only get about R30 000 from Wits as a competitive club, but it’s never enough,” said O’Shaughnessy.
She explained that their coach, Kelsey White, has had to organise their kit which included both the tailoring and the design. “We have to rock up with casual clothes to our competitions when all the other clubs are actually dressed like a team. All we have is our swimming kit”, said O’Shaughnessy.
The Fees Must Fall movement has also impacted the development of sign ups this year according to fencing chairperson Andrea Cabanac. She told Wits Vuvuzela that during the protests in the second semester of 2016, sports activities had to be cancelled even though people had paid their signup fee.
“During the start of this year, very few people signed up. We are a recreational club which means that we are self-funded, so our money comes from sign up fees,” said Cabanac.
She added that this week was an effort made to bridge the gap for funding issues. The sports council development officer, Takudzwa Chinamatira, has encouraged sports clubs to fund raise themselves to get their name out there.
“In 2013 they cut the sport budget to channel it into academics, arguably, rightfully so, but it has been frustrating. It has forced the clubs to be self-sufficient which is never a bad thing,” says Chinamatira.
Chinamatira explained that when clubs are able to raise money for themselves, Wit Sports matches the amount raised and gives it to the club. Money raised for each club covers transport, resources as well as fees regarding entering competitive tournaments.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Wits Vuvuzela, No more funding for recreational club ,March, 06, 2015
Wits Vuvuzela, Wits Sport keeping budget confidential, March, 13, 2017