Unlocking the Science of Peak Perfomance and Shaping Tomorrow’s Sports Scientists

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Growing up as a gifted but injury-prone footballer in a rural area, I realised early on how crucial training environments and support systems are for the performance of athletes.

That passion ignited my pursuit of Sport Science not just to study performance but to create systems that help others thrive, especially those from underserved communities. 

So says Dr Siphamandla Nyawose of Izingolweni from the KwaZulu-Natal South coast who was awarded a PhD in Sports Science from UKZN. 

A proud alumnus of Mshweshwe High School, his life is rooted in a love for sport and is driven by a desire to empower young athletes like himself. 

His PhD, supervised by Professor Andrew McKune, Professor Rowena Naidoo, and Professor Nenad Naumovski, tackled a cutting-edge topic in sports nutrition: the role of dietary supplements - specifically amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline - in enhancing athletic performance and recovery. 

Nyawose’s study began with a systematic review of existing literature, revealing that chronic supplementation with L-citrulline (2.4–6 g/day) over several days significantly increased nitric oxide levels and improved performance, while acute L-arginine use had little effect. The most promising outcomes appeared when both were used in combination, showing enhanced performance and reduced perceived exertion. 

A survey of 343 semi-professional soccer players in KwaZulu-Natal highlighted a major gap. While many players used sports and energy beverages for energy and performance boosts, over 70% lacked any knowledge about anti-doping policies, and the majority had never attended any training or awareness campaigns on supplement safety. The study emphasised the urgent need for education on safe and legal supplement use. 

Nyawose also conducted experimental trials testing the effects of a specially formulated L-Arg/L-Cit beverage on semi-professional and university-level soccer players. While no significant short-term effects on nitric oxide levels were observed, subtle benefits emerged. The group that took the supplement showed better fitness results. They had higher peak oxygen levels, reached their anaerobic threshold later, and lasted 8.5% (~60 seconds) longer before getting tired. This suggests a potential for supplementation to influence aerobic capacity and exercise tolerance. Nyawose, who is a lecturer at UKZN’s Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, is focused on shaping the next generation of sports scientists. 

‘I plan to rise through the academic ranks and become a full professor,’ he said. ‘More importantly, I want my research to make a real-world impact, particularly for athletes in under-resourced areas.’ 

When he’s not lecturing, researching, or engaging with communities, you’ll likely find him reading or gaming, two of his favourite pastimes that help him recharge. 

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini