The official opening of the new NWU Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) building on Thursday, 23 March, is a massive step in in creating an internationally acclaimed one-stop centre for sporting excellence in Potchefstroom.

This building is home to the North-West University (NWU) School of Human Movement Sciences and the CHHP: Sport Science and Biokinetics-facilities, which integrates the expertise within various divisions of the Faculty of Health Sciences. This includes the Institute for Psychology and Wellbeing, Institute of Sport Science and Development (ISSD) and the Institute of Biokinetics.

Video: Wouter Pienaar

The facets of health, exercise and sport are intertwined to create global opportunities and increase the NWU’s footprint in overall sporting excellence.

Photos: Wouter Pienaar

Prof Awie Kotzé, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, played an instrumental part together with Prof. Hans de Ridder, director of the School of Human Movement Sciences and Prof. Pieter Kruger, Director of the CHHP to turn the vision into a reality.

“We will take the lead in the continent and internationally regarding scientific expertise. We will apply it with excellence in all our diverse services in the world of sport, exercise and health. Our global footprint is also a silent testimony of the excellent work that our staff are doing at the NWU. I believe unconditionally that the future is very bright. I know they are true professionals who only strive for the best,” added Prof Awie Kotzé, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka officially opened the building with the unveiling of a special plaque. He also gave a tour of the building and its state of the art facilities to guests in attendance.

“Our focus is built on three pillars – academic training, active research, and quality service delivery. Our School of Human Movement Sciences and Centre for Health and Human Performance work together to provide comprehensive, evidence-based services to make a meaningful difference in our clients’ lives. With world-class facilities and a commitment to engaged scholarship, social responsiveness, and an ethic of care, we aim to expand our footprint in sport, exercise, and health on a global stage,” stated Tyobeka.

Tyobeka himself also gave a hands-on demonstration on how athletes would use some of the equipment.

Prof De Ridder also emphasised that the renovation of the new building and its facilities was due to a team effort from everyone involved.

“Thank you Prof. Awie for believing in our dreams and investing in us. We really appreciate that. Thanks you to all the staff members who were involved with the renovation of this building and making sure that dreams became reality,” stated Prof. De Ridder.

Potchefstroom has been well-known as a hub for sporting excellence with numerous national and international athletes training and utilising the facilities for decades.

This new centre will make a massive difference with its multi-disciplinary approach that will see professionals in various fields providing a host of services to cater to every need.

“We cover the entire life cycle of human performance, from the cradle to the grave. We sit with a combination have world class facilities and brilliant academics which gives us the best of both worlds and I am really excited where we can end up and this is only the start of things to come,” stated Prof. Pieter Kruger, the director of the CHHP.