NUSTodians Serve Up Gold at 2026 Inter-University Games
The NUST Staff Sports and Social Association (NSSSA), recently headed to Johannesburg, South Africa, to participate in the 2026 Inter-University Staff Games hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). A 70-member NUST delegation departed from Windhoek two days ahead of the sporting competition.
The Inter-University Staff Games brought together staff members from universities across the region in an environment that promotes employee wellness, healthy competition, networking, institutional collaboration and camaraderie through sport. This year, the Games attract participants from Wits University, the University of South Africa (UNISA), NUST, the University of Namibia (UNAM), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), North-West University (NWU), Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
From Participation to Podium Finishes
The NUST delegation proudly represented the University in ten sporting activities, namely aerobics, darts, football, netball, volleyball, tennis, pool, tug of war, relay and marathon, returning with a strong medal haul that included gold in tennis and volleyball and bronze in darts. The NUST football team also secured a convincing 4–2 victory, further reflecting the growing competitiveness of the University’s staff sporting teams. For Head of Delegation Gabriel Mbokoma, these results are a reflection of how far staff sport at NUST has come, with the University moving beyond simply taking part in competitions to actively challenging for top honours. “The state of staff sport at NUST has improved significantly. We are no longer merely participating; we are competing for top honours,” he said, while expressing gratitude to NUST Management for its continued support of staff sport and wellness initiatives.
He further noted that the Inter-University Staff Games provide NUST with an important competitive platform ahead of the Southern African Universities Staff Sports Association (SAUSSA) Games, allowing the University's teams to assess their readiness, strengthen team cohesion and identify areas for improvement. At the same time, the Games provide staff members with an opportunity to build professional and social networks with colleagues from other universities.
More Than Just the Medals
NUST's participation in the 2026 Games carried particular significance, as the University was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Inter-University Staff Games and served as the inaugural host. The Games have since grown into an important platform for bringing university employees together through sport while strengthening relationships and collaboration among participating institutions. The previous edition was hosted by the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), with Wits University taking over the hosting responsibilities for the 2026 edition.
