MUT has struck out a collaboration with a local non-governmental organisation to revive sport in Umlazi Township. The University’s Sport department and the Community Engagement and Development (CEAD) directorate are collaborating with the Inkonjane Youth Development in the venture. Giving reasons of the collaboration, Inkonjane Youth Development’s Vuma Mfeka, said his organisation, approached the University’s Sport department to host a sports tournament. Vuma said they wanted to revive the sporting spirit in the schools so the youth would be shielded from all forms of misbehaviours. Mfeka is soccer legend that kept goals for the AmaZulu and African Wanderers football clubs and was a school principal. The Sport department Deputy Director, Siyabulela Mkwalo, and Researcher in the CEAD, Dr Bonginkosi Zondi emphasized the importance of sport in general and in the life of a learner in particular. Dr Zondi said that through Sport learners would a chance to socialize.
The collaboration between the two organisations resulted in a tournament that featured 16 football and netball teams from 13 high schools that performed above 75% in their academic performance in year 2022. The Deputy Director in the University’s Sport department, Siyabulela Mkwalo, said the collaboration sought to establish strategic partnerships with the broader community “to enrich learning and research, prepare engaged citizens, and contribute to the public good. The premise for this project is community engagement that values a culture of openness and access, creating value and improved quality of life, and collaboration with community stakeholders”. The games were played through two phases, with the first phase starting with a “glorious” event launch on the 28 July 2023, followed by the main event on 11 August 2023. The last eight teams in both sporting codes took part in this main event. The football final was won by Qhilika High School, beating Igagasi High School by 3-0, at the University’s sport grounds. The inaugural winners received their trophy on 29 August 2023, much to the applause of both teachers and learners. The winners were also awarded with a brand new Adids soccer jersey set. This was added to another set of soccer jerseys that MUT donated to the school. The University donated soccer and netball sets to all the teams that took part in the tournament.
Zwelethu High School became the inaugural winners of the netball final after beating Canaan College by 10 points to points to four, and also got a cup.