YVETTE MASHEGO
Residences provide students with exciting new experiences, and residence sport is an opportunity to build lifelong friendships and learn the importance of teamwork, respect and commitment.
Traditionally, all residences compete in various RAG games, such as touch rugby (for the girls as well), drastoel, (where participants carry a team member on a chair running across the sports grounds and the Silly Olympics. In this fun version of the Olympic Games, “athletes” build puzzles, carry water in the boots they are wearing and fill buckets of water using their hands. A lot of bruises and falls can be expected, although this only adds to the fun.
The first official event on the residences’ sports calendar is the Ienk Athletics where first years in res can show off their talent on the track.
The male residences have the opportunity to show off their skills in the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby competition. This forms part of the FNB Varsity Cup and residences from all participating universities can enter. Mopanie won Tuks Koshuisrugby league last year.The Valentine’s Day netball and basketball tournament is one way to get your heart racing in February and sets the tone for the res netball and basketball leagues. Taaibos and Erika won the 2012 basketball tournament with Klaradyn winning the netball league.
Other sports that form part of the res leagues include cricket (only for the male residences), hockey, football, swimming, volleyball, squash, tennis, badminton and even chess.
In 2012, Mopanie stood head and shoulders above the rest and won the cricket and rugby res leagues. Kiaat and Zinnia won the soccer res league last year and ensured that fans were glued to their seats until the final whistle.
One of the most exciting fixtures on the residence sports calendar is the intervarsity tournament against the University of Johannesburg. Residences who do well in the res league compete against UJ residences and attend socials afterwards.
Photo: Brad Donald
