Few will possibly know who TuksSport's Anver Carols are, but it is people like him who often get to lay the foundation for some of the most memorable sports moments. 

Go ask the likes of Cameron van der Burgh, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Akani Simbine,  Kirsten McCann, and Lungi Ngidi to name only a few. They will all say the same thing.  Being a champion is about more than hard work and discipline. Real motivation starts the moment you get to train at world-class facilities. That is what Carols's job is about. 

The University of Pretoria prides itself on having some of the country's best sporting facilities. It is why Olympians and world champions from all over the world love to train at Tuks. 

But the water in a pool does not stay blue on its own. Grass does not just grow and remain green. No Astroturf and synthetic athletics track lasts forever. It takes a dedicated team to ensure all of this. 

About eight years ago when Carols came for a job interview with TuksSport, he knew absolutely nothing about the upkeep of sports facilities. The one thing, however, he had to go for him was a promise that he had never shied away from hard work.

From day one, Carols was driven by the idea that athletes deserve the best, no matter for which team they might play. Not a leaf or one grass blade should be out of place. To ensure this meant he had been on a continuous quest to learn more.

Carols describes what he does more as a passion than real work. 

"There is something to be said to in some small way, be able to contribute to Tuks's sporting success. When any Tuks team wins or an athlete wins, it feels like all of us at facilities have won. 

To him, one of the biggest highlights was when Tuks's rugby team won the Varsity Cup in 2012 and repeated the feat during the ten-year celebration of the tournament in 2017. 

Another highlight to him was when Tuks hosted Kaizer Chiefs. 

"Many thought we would not be able to do so, but we proved them wrong. The time AmaTuks played in the Premier League is something else, I won't easily forget. Simon Magakwe becoming the first South African to dip under ten seconds in the 100 metres at Tuks was another special moment.

"From a personal perspective, it is always nice to hear people being complimentary about the TuksSport's facilities. Like any athlete, we as a team strive to be the best in what we do."

According to Carols, the secret to well-kept facilities is to be continuously proactive. 

"As in sport, we never have the luxury of resting on our laurels. The moment we do is the moment there will be a crisis."

The upkeep of the swimming pool is apparently the biggest challenge. 

"My wife will tell you that the one thing that gives me nightmares is the pool. There is always something that can go wrong."