University of Cape Town (UCT) new sport and recreation manager Mark Bashe has identified some immediate tasks to accelerate growth in his department: infrastructure, funding and engagement.
The mission is clear: UCT sport needs active participation to stake its claim on training elite athletes internally, locally and nationally.
Bashe believes it is no coincidence that he was thrust into this position because there was a “malaise” about leaving his previous position in KwaZulu-Natal to start a new chapter in the Western Cape.
“I am a religious person; I didn’t feel confident before the interview and my wife noticed it and we decided to pray together… When I finished the interview, I felt like I had secured the job even before I received the official offer.” said Bashe.
Sport, relaxation and wellness
Bashe has been in the fraternity for many years, first as a sports management student at Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology), then as a sports practitioner working in both local and national government, including at major events such as: .at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he was a member of the local organizing committee.
He has spent the last decade leading the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s sports department and brings with him exceptional experience, having previously interacted with his now direct colleagues through various inter-university engagements. This simplifies his role and gives him more time to focus on his main task, which is to develop a comprehensive strategy and plan that is perfectly aligned with UCT’s Vision 2030.
Bashe is actively involved in several aspects of the university sports landscape, including: his role as current Chair of the South African Heads of University Sport Forum; serve on the Varsity Cup Board of Directors; hold a position on the Varsity Sports Exco; and is a member of the national executive committee of University Sport South Africa (USSA).
“I always group sport and recreation with wellness because the three have to work hand in hand when we are dealing with elite athletes playing for national teams and also athletes at the collegiate sports level; then those students who are at UCT and want to be part of a collective such as a club or team while enjoying student life,” Bashe said.
“First, we need to get our students participating and playing in intramural leagues to build the strength of our teams and best prepare them for national competitions.”
“As we host a lot of sporting events, we have to take student wellbeing into account. Therein lie opportunities to encourage students to care for their own health and well-being. This goal requires our department to work as a collective with other key stakeholders within the Division of Student Affairs (DSA).”
“First, we need to get our students participating and playing in intramural leagues to build the strength of our teams and best prepare them for national competitions. Students, as the institution’s slogan goes, must feel that they are “UCT”.
“Infrastructure is another priority for us: making our facilities world-class through renovations and expansions must be a priority. Our power as an institution is enormous. We ask alumni to support sport regardless of the rules. Our strategy is to go to the graduates of the different sports and make them aware of the need to develop. “No amount is ever small,” Bashe said.
“Our team recognizes that as we move forward, we cannot be a jack of all trades…we must emphasize our strengths. We need to structure our program to identify our priority codes (provincial and national level athletes to put UCT on the map) and focus on which codes need to compete locally and which codes compete internally.”
Bashe is an experienced sports practitioner with many years of experience.
“Transformation is another difficult but necessary conversation.” UCT has a comprehensive transformation strategy in place and as a sporting entity we need to ensure clubs are aligned with both institutional and association transformation policies. There is no benefit in creating an island outside the wider sporting community.
“Sport must become part of a holistic process of student life. We are on a mission to rekindle the flame of sport and wellness: Our plans have one goal: to take UCT sport and leisure to the next level; where it used to be, across all codes.
“We are bringing all the clubs closer to the department because we are all part of UCT. Clubs enjoy their independence and ability to develop and implement their own plans; However, there is only one unit that can bring us all together: the sports and leisure unit,” said Bashe.
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