#TuksAthletics: UP Vice-Chancellor encourages students to adopt active lifestyle

Posted on February 14, 2019

Sport and living an active lifestyle are two things that Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, feels quite strongly about. 

One of his visions is for TuksSport, UP’s Sport Department, to be the trailblazer in university sport across Africa. However, it will never only be about winning and being the best for him. Something that genuinely concerns Prof Kupe is the rise of inactivity among young people. To him sport is a tool to unify people and a way to encourage social cohesion without racial barriers. Sport is also a source of entertainment for many who may be troubled with personal challenges.

“Get active – because it can change your life,” is one of the messages he wants the students to take to heart. 

The Vice-Chancellor will lead by example on Saturday 16 February at the Bestmed TuksRace, at which he plans to participate in the 5km walk. He says he would have loved to extend his kilometres, but due to his hectic schedule, he has not had enough preparation time on the road. 

“I enjoy long-distance walking, because it gets the blood circulation going. While I am out on the road, I often find solutions and get peace of mind. That is why I want to encourage students to be active.

“The amount of hours that many young people spend staring at computer screens or on their mobile devices is quite concerning. Then they still need to sit down and study. That is not healthy. I am a firm believer that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. 

“When you are active, it leads to greater mental alertness. Participating in sport also stimulates natural competitiveness. If you are able to take that to your studies, you are bound to succeed, and that is what we want at the University of Pretoria. All-rounders, people who excel in everything, whether it’s in sport or academics.”

Prof Kupe believes TuksSport has the potential to be a leader in student sport in Africa.

“TuksSport is already a powerhouse in numerous sports. Just look at the results of the last few years. The success is due to the university establishing itself as leaders in high-performance sport. We are forever on a quest to improve on what we have already achieved. With the right support and incentives, there is no reason for Tuks not to take their sporting excellence beyond the borders of South Africa.”

Prof Kupe views TuksSport High School – an independent co-ed school which forms part of UP’s High Performance Centre – as a vital component of athlete development. Young athletes are placed into structured sport programmes where their talent is nurtured by a team of experts. One of the valuable lessons they learn while still at school is that no career in sport lasts forever. Therefore, it is equally essential to excel in their studies.

When he has free time, Professor Kupe enjoys watching tennis, especially when the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are competing.

“For me, they are the personification that dedication and hard work does pay off. Venus and Serena never allowed their poor background to deter them from fulfilling their dreams."

Prof Kupe is also a big fan of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.

* UP students can still register for the BestMed TuksRace, which takes place at the Hillcrest Sports Campus on Saturday 16 February, by visiting the UP Shop on the Hatfield Campus.

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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