"I'm going to be very supportive of Maties Sport. It forms an important part of Stellenbosch University's brand."
Prof Wim de Villiers, rector of Stellenbosch University (SU) shared this sentiment with staff of Maties Sport when he visited them at Coetzenburg recently.
Staff members had to opportunity to introduce themselves to the rector.
"It's a pleasure seeing your passion, enthusiasm and energy," he told them. "I share it with you."
He also shared something about himself.
"I'm very keen on sport – I love participating and I also love watching sport.
"I'm a recreational runner, I'm certainly no Kenyan," he joked. However, he has completed a number of marathons (11), among them the big five: Chicago, Boston, New York, London and Berlin.
De Villiers told staff members that as rector he is heartened and buoyed by the human capital at SU.
"Maties Sport is very important to the university. We acknowledge the value of sport and physical activity: mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body)."
