MUT held a high-powered, two-day induction workshop for its new and returning sports coaches earlier this week, setting a strong, values-driven tone for the upcoming academic and sporting season.
Addressing the coaching staff, Professor Chalufu emphasised that technical sports expertise alone is not enough to shape young athletes. He urged coaches to recognise the deep impact their roles carry. “Please take what you do seriously. You are not here by mistake,” Professor Chalufu stated. “Be careful of what you say to someone; you can make or break them. You need to use what is called soft skills.”
Reminding the attendees of their integral role within the University structure, Professor Chalufu highlighted that sports staff are key contributors to MUT’s broader educational mission. “You are now part of MUT, so please don’t talk ill about MUT. You are part of Student Affairs. As Student Affairs, we have a mandate to support the academic project, every one of us.”
Professor Chalufu also appealed to coaches to be part of holistic student development. He urged coaches to see themselves as educators who help build well-rounded individuals. “You will be teaching them so much. They will learn something from you every time you engage with them… We want to ensure that we produce well-grounded individuals.”
Stressing sportsmanship over pure competition, Chalufu posed a critical question to the room: “How do you make sure that MUT values are expressed properly? Sometimes it is about sportsmanship, not about winning.”