BELS Strengthens Community Engagement Through Sport Impact Initiatives

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The Department of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences (BELS) continues to deepen its commitment to meaningful community engagement, with the High-Performance Coordinator in the Discipline, Dr Siphamandla Nyawose, spearheading a series of high-impact projects that connect academic expertise with the needs of local sports communities.

“These initiatives demonstrate a dynamic model for community engagement - one that merges service, teaching and research to create lasting change,” said the Academic Leader of BELS, Professor Rowena Naidoo, “By embedding student learning into real-world projects, the department not only uplifts local athletes and coaches but also advances applied research and professional training.”

One of the Department’s most inspiring collaborations has been with the Sunflower Women’s Football Club, a long-standing hub for developing female football talent in KwaZulu-Natal. Over the years, the club has produced players who have gone on to compete at university level, represent Banyana Banyana and play internationally.

In April 2025, Nyawose, supported by Exercise Science Honours students, conducted fitness assessments for 26 players, delivering tailored performance reports to guide their training. This aligns with the vision of club founder-coach Mr Siyabonga Malinga to keep young women engaged in sport, away from negative influences, and equipped to reach their full potential. Plans are underway to formalise a partnership with UKZN, granting the club access to university facilities, specialist expertise and workshops on conditioning, nutrition, recovery and professional conduct - ultimately aiming to retain top talent within the province.

During the 2024/25 football season, Nyawose extended his expertise to Durban City Football Club, reigning champions of the Motsepe Foundation League. What began as pre-season fitness assessments grew into a formal Memorandum of Understanding between the club and BELS laying the groundwork for long-term collaboration. Through this partnership, students have gained valuable externship placements with graduates Mr Michael Radebe and Mr Amukelani Mfukeng contributing directly to the club’s performance programmes. Mfukeng’s master’s research, conducted in partnership with the team, is already yielding insights into the physical demands and psychological pressures of professional football. The club’s recent promotion to the Premier League for the 2025/26 season stands as a testament to the strength of this collaboration.

Beyond football, Nyawose has also supported young girls in cricket and hockey in partnership with the Graduate School of Business and Leadership’s Head of Executive Education, Dr Shalen Mohanlall. Leading a team of honours students, Nyawose oversaw comprehensive fitness testing, with the results informing targeted training programmes. This initiative has laid the foundation for the forthcoming Daughters and Dads Active and Empower Programme, designed to promote physical activity, confidence and holistic wellbeing among young female athletes through active family involvement.

Collectively, these initiatives showcase BELS’s community engagement model in action - linking academic knowledge with community needs, integrating student learning into real-world contexts, opening new research avenues, and creating sustainable pathways for athlete development from grassroots to elite levels.

As Naidoo explains: “These projects demonstrate the value of combining academic expertise, student involvement and strong community partnerships. The benefits extend far beyond the field - they build capacity, inspire ambition and strengthen our social impact.”

Through this integrated approach, Nyawose’s work is not only enhancing sports performance and opportunities in local communities but is also setting a benchmark for how universities can drive meaningful, lasting change.

Words and photograph: Nombuso Dlamini