VANDERBIJLPARK. – The Cape is Dutch again and the bonfires burned high after the North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus flexed its muscles at the various Universities Sport South Africa (USSA) tournaments. 

The NWU Vaal’s USSA rugby team was crowned champion in the C division after beating UKZN 31-7 in the final in Pretoria. 

“I am very proud of the players. It is a young group, but their discipline on and off the field was exceptional. It was a privilege and an easy task to coach this group, “said Dewald Pieters, head coach of the triumphant team. 

Pieters was particularly impressed with the team’s outstanding defense and the maturity shown by the players not to deviate an inch from their game plan and structures, despite runaway wins of 88-0 over SPU and 95-0 over MUT. The statistics do not lie. The team scored 214 points in three games and conceded only seven. André Haarhoff scored eight tries and Divan du Toit scored 59 points. Ruan Oosthuizen was named the Player of the Tournament and he was also rewarded with four tries. 

The NWU Vaal’s bodybuilding team also delivered when it was named the USSA Bodybuilding Champion. 

The team also boasts 11 students (Mandlakayise Jonga, Keagile Lefika, Tshanduko Tshilongo, Kwanele Mthiyane, Lerato Mzenzi Samkelisiwe Maseko, Gift Coss, Simphiwe Nhlengethwa, Lehlohonolo Mnisi, Mthokozisi Zuma and Zoe Tasak in the USSA team that will participate at the SA’s. 

In the women’s division, Lefika was named the overall beach bikini winner, while Mthiyane won the ladies body fitness division. Zoe Tasak won the women’s bikini division and Kekana was named the overall winner in the wellness division. 

The men also flexed their muscles and Gift Cossa was named the Classic Bodybuilding, u.80kg champion.