Football is a short-term career and players often need something to lean on when they hang up their boots.
As a successful sports institution, University of Pretoria are driving that message to their Varsity Football players. UP-Tuks players are working on the pitch and the class room.
Nicholas Stothard is a good example of a student who is balancing his football and study. Juggling football and studies is not easy, but the Tuks goalkeeper is doing just that. He is studying Bcom recreation and sports management and possibly to do his honours in marketing management next year.
At the moment he is pushing to get into the marketing programme and he is required to obtain 70% to get in. His sports management marks are above 85 % and that’s impressive.
Last year he obtained three distinctions out of six they were all above 75%.
“Working hard and maintaining a balanced life is not as hard as it sounds. I lose a bit of time when travelling but I plan in advance before trips and do things in order,” he said.
But what does he do when he is supposed to write a test or hand in an assignment on the day of the match?
“The university are able to understand that we have to travel and we submit letters to notify them of that. We miss tests and write them at a later stage but you have to keep on studying and not relax when you write later,” Stothard explained.
One or two players did stay behind because they were writing important tests. But Tuks usually do their training at night. Stothard wants to take full-advantage of the competition and learn as much as he can.
“It’s a good platform for young aspiring footballers and doing the studying and playing at the same time it teaches us responsibility. It’s good that this is on TV and as players we’re being noticed,” he said.
Some of the players are talented on the pitch but not gifted in class and he had some advice to offer to them.
“Actually I heard that if we’re not passing or attending class we will be removed from the competition. They have to work hard getting a degree is important there is life after football. I know a lot of players in AmaTuks studying through UNISA. Football will not pay the bills forever,” he warned
By Charles Baloyi
