GEORGE NEWS - For Thabo Spelman, returning to Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus is not merely a new appointment; it is a homecoming and an opportunity to help shape the future of sport at the institution where his own journey began.
The 41-year-old sports administrator has been appointed to oversee rugby, football and netball at the George campus, bringing extensive experience across various sporting codes.
“This is my dream job,” said Spelman, who was most recently involved with the Western Province Cricket Association.
“To return as an old boy makes it extra special. The varsity colours course through my veins.”
Building a stronger sporting programme
Spelman believes his appointment will help Madibaz Sport achieve its ambition of returning to Division One of Varsity Sports.
“We are not where we want or need to be. I can now add my skill sets and strategic experience to the immediate and long-term success of sport at the campus.”
He is aware that the teams will need to “punch above their weight”, but has already identified key priorities for each code.
In football, he wants to develop a mentally strong team capable of playing an attractive brand of football, with promotion to the Albert Butana Chaane (ABC) League as the ultimate goal.
In rugby, he plans to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor by establishing a high-performance culture.
For netball, his initial strategy includes creating more opportunities for competitive matchplay and strengthening relationships with leading schools in the Eden district.
“We want to develop a respectable netball culture and, of course, toughen up our team,” he said.
Keeping local talent in the region
Spelman also wants to help retain talented school athletes in the region by creating opportunities for them to pursue their academic and sporting careers at the George campus.
Another part of his vision is to establish the campus as a training base for provincial, national, franchise and international teams.
Training camps and coaching clinics would give Madibaz athletes and coaches opportunities to learn from elite sporting visitors while raising the profile of the campus as a sporting destination.
From cricket to administration
Spelman grew up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape and enrolled for a degree in human movement science at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha after completing his schooling in his hometown and Queenstown.
At the time, his sights were set on professional cricket, with strength and conditioning coaching as an alternative career.
“I had this deep-rooted dream of being part of South Africa’s sporting ecosystem. If I didn’t make it, my next option was to qualify as a cricket strength and conditioning coach.”
His career took a different direction during his second year at university when National First Division football club Bay United appointed him as a video performance analyst.
He later moved into strength and conditioning with the club’s academy before gaining experience at primary and high-school level.
“It was during my stints at primary and high schools that I became serious about being a sports administrator.”
His sporting background nevertheless remains an important part of his identity.
“I was a decent cricketer, always ready with a witty chirp,” he joked.
Making his mark back home
For Spelman, the opportunity to return to the institution that helped shape him is as significant as the role itself.
“Coming back home to serve the place that made who and what I am today was a no-brainer,” he said.
“I look forward to working with the student athletes at the George campus and making sure their light shines.”
His approach to the task is summed up by a quote from basketball legend Kobe Bryant: “Rest at the end, not in the middle”.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
