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By Akani Nkuna
Melinda Goosen and Cheryl Kotze have been appointed as managers for the aquatics team ahead of the World University Games in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region on 16 July to 27 July.
Goosen who heads swimming at Nelson Mandela University is entrusted to guide the diving squad at the games, and despite this being her 5th appearance, she said she relished the opportunity to lead the talented four-member squad.
“I am really excited about the talent among the divers. It is only the second time we have had divers in the squad,” she said.
The diving role marks the new territory for Goosen who has already immersed herself in planning and logistics to guarantee a smooth experience for the team at what she describes as the “premier international event for student-athletes.”
In addition to logistics, her responsibilities range from keeping athletes on track with their training programmes to handling key documents required by the local organising committee.
Meanwhile, Kotze appointed manager of the SA men’s swimming team, is also no stranger to the global stage after her stint managing the University Sports South Africa (USSA) swimming team at the 2023 Games in Chengdu.
The team won 7 of the 20 medals they competed for.
Reminiscent of the atmosphere at the stadium and the patriotic feeling she felt walking behind the South Africa flag during the opening ceremony officiated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kotze recalled the ordeal as “close to the Olympic experience as you could get.”
“We have made monthly presentations to the USSA high-performance committee, followed by one-on-one sessions with head coaches and the swimming committee. Now that the team have been selected, the real work begins,” Kotze added.
Kotze expressed appreciation for the backing from USSA, noting the availability and dedication of its team.
She welcomed the addition of coaches Marco Markgraaff and Keenan Riffel, both of whom were part of the 2023 delegation.
“The three of us know each other well and work seamlessly together. That strong team dynamic makes a huge difference when you are competing on the world stage,” she said.
INSIDE EDUCATION