Tswane University of Technology (TUT) student-athlete Tholana Peu is a former South African FISU ambassador, who has been handed key lessons in her journey with the FISU family even during the ongoing global pandemic.
Peu, whose journey in sport began at a very young age, recalls running track and cross country in primary school. She also joined netball, which she admits was not her strongest point, however she later moved to hockey which she loved playing. “Coming from a sports family background and being involved in sport participation, as well as administration, meant that I was continuously exposed to the sports lifestyle and culture and that is how I came to really love it. I then decided to study sports management and obtained my post-graduate diploma – in short terms sports forms part of my DNA,” the twenty-four-year old said.
Peu with her fellow USSA NEC members at their AGM in 2021As a young individual in the sports world, Peu’s involvement with FISU has impacted her career in a positive way. Last year she was the FISU team leader for the 2021-2022 FISU volunteer leaders academy (FVLA ) candidates. When asked what are some key lessons that she has taken from being a part of the organization, she went on to say: “One of the key lessons I have taken from being part of the FISU family is management skills and the importance of administration but most importantly the promotion of university sport.”
There is one thing certain for Peu and that is she holds education and sport close to her heart. “For me, sports is education and education in sports. I have learnt so many lessons through sports that I couldn’t have dreamt of learning in the classroom however for me to get into the space of sports and access the vast knowledge I have received I had to go to school.
“Sports assisted me to pay for most of my tertiary fees; it has been the root of most of my life. My dad had always emphasised the importance of an educated athlete and I took that with me everywhere I went. The best survival kit in life one can acquire is education and access of knowledge,” said the avid runner.
University Sport South Africa (USSA) has played an integral role in Peu’s development and progression, “USSA has played a huge role in my personal development and growth. I have always seen myself as just the sport active participant and once I got involved in USSA through attending the various meetings with my HOD (head of delegation) as a student representative I began to understand the administrative side of sport and grew to love it every
Peu at an awards evening in Johannesburg time. On a more personal scale, I am more driven to use my voice to speak on behalf of other participants and student administrators,” said the now USSA NEC member.
Peu participated in the FISU IDUS (International Day of University Sport) webinar in 2021 and she drew positives from the online experience with the ambassador’s programme: “It is always amazing to hear how other countries are governing and running their university sports. I attend as alumni and a group leader for the current ambassadors and being on the receiving end of information was quite an experience,” she explained.
On her role as a South African FISU ambassador and what it’s like to be a mentor, Peu went on to say that, “There is so much I would love to contribute under my title as an ambassador. To name a few of the things I would like to accomplish [one] is to educate other student administrators on innovative ways to keep the university sport culture alive. Secondly to have a leadership seminars where we have honest conversations on university sports and our roles and responsibilities as student sports leaders.”
Peu has serious plans for the future and goals she would like to achieve, which are:
“My long-term goal and dream is to create or revive an environment where there is a links between grassroot sport with tertiary education up to elite sports. Personally, I also have goals to push myself on going back to the track and hopefully joining the green and gold once again. I also want to contribute to the development of sports and who knows maybe be president of a provincial structure such as AGN (Athletics Gauteng North) one day!” she enthusiastically concluded.
