SPORTS MANAGEMENT STUDENT GERMANY-BOUND AS PART OF SA DELEGATION FOR 2025 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES

The unbridled love and passion for sports and all its subsequent administration will see WSU Sports Management student McArthur Wulana jetting off to Germany as part of the South African administrative contingent that will attend the 2025 World University Games from 13 to 30 July 2025. 

After a rigorous interview process in 2024, Wulana was selected for his immense talent and extensive experience, and soon after, he was appointed as the Assistant Sports Officer for the South African team at this year's World University Games.

"I am very excited and proud to have been elected to such an important position. It will be a tough journey ahead, but I believe the opportunities that lie ahead will make it all worthwhile. It is truly an honor to represent my university and my country in the highest levels of university sports," he said.

As part of his itinerary, Wulana will also be participating in the International Federation of University Sports (FISU) Assembly in Dusseldorf, Germany, from 14 – 16 July as one of the country’s student delegates.

The primary responsibilities of the assistant sports officer will involve supporting the needs of athletes, managers, and the GMD. This includes organizing kit distribution, managing dress codes, coordinating transportation times to venues, and scheduling daily management meetings.

His journey in sports administration is deeply connected to his passion for cricket. In 2017, at the encouragement of his former mentor and cricket coach Sipho Metula, he began managing cricket at the Buffalo City Campus.

After his time as the cricket manager, Wulana gained further experience by joining the WSU rugby team as an assistant. This role carried much greater significance due to the higher profile of rugby within the university's athletic program.

He has come a long way and significantly improved his knowledge and experience by taking on critical roles. For example, he managed WSU's first-ever water sport, rowing, was elected four times as the chairperson of the university's institutional sports council, and was re-elected to the Border Cricket Club Committee for the term 2023 to 2026. Additionally, he served as the Master of Ceremonies for WSU's Varsity Shield campaigns in 2022 and 2023.

In October 2023, during the annual general meeting of University Sports South Africa (USSA) held at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Wulana, a student pursuing an advanced diploma then, was elected as an assessor for the national executive committee.

"Sports administration is very important to me because it provides the opportunity to be part of the transformation of university athletes into professionals who can earn a good living from sports. Many of our athletes come from modest backgrounds, so it is crucial to create opportunities that allow our young people to thrive," said Wulana.

Wulana’s term as a USSA assessor is set to last four years, concluding in 2027.

By Thando Cezula