The Wits Sports Council (WSC) has partnered up with the All Residence Council (ARC) to host a sports derby called Wits Sports challenges All Residence Council on Friday, September 22 at Diggz field on West Campus.
Speaking to Wits Vuvuzela, WSC outgoing chairperson and organiser of the derby, third-year medical student Rubina Valodia said, “The David Webster sports tournament is a long-standing tradition within the WSC. The tournament commemorates the life of Dr David Webster, who was an academic and anti-apartheid activist.”
Valodia added that the aims of the tournament are to honour the work of Webster in the struggle against apartheid and to pass on his love of sports to students. “He was a dedicated soccer fan,” she said.
The tournament last took place in 2012 with just the participation of Wits Sports. This year the outgoing sports council decided to revisit the tradition. “We wanted to revive the tournament so as to foster a sense of community and camaraderie amongst sporting students and to include the ARC,” Valodia said.
The theme is “WSC vs ARC” – there will be some friendly game competition between the two groups of students. The day will include music, snacks and drinks. Medics will be on hand for any injuries.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, ARC sports and cultural officer, Emmanuel Mareme said, “Only teams in the residence are expected to participate and the council decided to partake in this initiative to encourage residence students to have fun and engage with one another through participation in the different sports.”
Mareme said the ARC is expected to organise awards for the winning teams.
Speaking to Wits Vuvuzela, third year BEd student and member of Rennie House Residence, Palesa Mofokeng, said the sports day was a good idea from the two councils. “We shouldn’t always look to parties when having fun as students. So participation in sports will contribute to our camaraderie and the health benefit is a plus.”
Some of the teams that will take part include basketball, futsal, netball and chess. With the netball and futsal teams consisting of five to eight players, basketball teams three to five players and chess being played by individuals.
Valodia said no teams were expected to train for the tournament. “It is meant as a fun warm-down from the busy 2017 sporting calendar. Most students will have been training hard this year for their University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournaments or the ARC sports day. This tournament doesn’t require any extra training and students of all fitness levels are welcome to participate.”
Teams can sign up via the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckCHY7GDzX4pmDF6-wOQewadGwryRlEWIjpfdQ_TgagA_CoQ/viewform?c=0&w=1 or on the Wits Sports Council Facebook page. Entry is open to all students who live in residence or are members of a Wits sports club.
RELATED ARTICLES
- Wits Vuvuzela , September 4, 2017 , Witsies earn bragging rights at South Point sports day
- Wits Vuvuzela , April 4, 2012 , Running in memory of our fallen heroes
- Wits Vuvuzela , February 7, 2014 , Wits Sports gets its groove back
