Three Table Tennis players will exemplify their unwavering dedication to the sport, proudly representing CPUT Sports on the international stage as they join fellow student-athletes from across the continent at the 12th All Africa University Games, known as the FASU Games Cairo 2026.

Organised by the Federation of African University Sports (FASU), taking place from 8 to 16 September 2026, the Games will feature 18 sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, fencing, football, futsal, judo, karate, modern pentathlon, padel, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

With the continent’s best student-athletes heading to Cairo, the stage is set for an exciting celebration of African university sport for Ntuthuzelo Lusithi, Zizipho Ntlali and Logan Willemse. For Logan, a second-year student studying a Bachelor of Education at the Wellington Campus, her goal is to perform at her highest level, stay focused, and take every match one point at a time. “As a team, we hope to make it to the podium.”

She said a successful tournament would be knowing that she gave her absolute best in every match and didn't leave the table feeling like “I could have done more”. “Of course, winning a medal would be an amazing achievement!” Logan says, managing an academic workload while training for a major continental championship definitely requires discipline and good time management. “I try to plan my work ahead of time, stay on top of deadlines, and use my free time effectively.”

Accountancy third-year student, Zizipho, also a first timer at the All Africa University Games, says, "I don't get as many international matches, so I have been working on footwork to improve speed. Asked what specific areas of her game she and her coach have focused on the most over the last few weeks, she says footwork and consistency. “Continental players attack a lot, so we’ve been preparing for that.”

She continues: “As much as the level of competition will be high, I want to at least bring a medal home both for teams and singles.” Zizipho says Egypt and Nigeria are the toughest competitors, as they have been doing well in recent years. She says she will also consider it a successful tournament, “If we make it out of the group stages and enjoy my time there. “We encourage each other and keep a positive energy. When competing at the international level, Ntuthuzelo can only work on refining his technique and focus on mastering it to force opponents to adjust to his game instead of it being

the other way round. “Movement and controlling my mind have been the biggest focus areas, as I had to get my reaction time even faster than it was.”

Reflecting on their primary goal for this tournament, He says: “Well, I can't really put a goal on this one because going is already rewriting history. We are the first group in the country to go to this major tournament in about 14 years and the first at CPUT. This is a major milestone for CPUT and university table tennis in South Africa, and we hope more universities will support their student athletes to attend the next edition. However, I am feeling good and ready, and we have nothing to lose but history to make, so we'll take it one match at a time and go as far as we can.”

In his message to the students, Frans Mamabolo: Manager and Head of the Sports, Arts and Culture Department, says: “We are very proud of their achievements, especially their dedication to their sports and flying the flag of CPUT Sports high internationally. This is one of our objectives to contribute towards CPUT Internationalisation strategy… They must go and make us proud as an institution; they’re carrying the inspiration of every student and staff member at CPUT. As the Division of Student Affairs, we will continue to enhance the student experience at CPUT.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT’s Table Tennis team is defending their title at the University Sports South Africa Tournament, which takes place this week.

The team, managed by Llweyln Le Kay scooped first place in last year’s tournament and are positive that they will once again bring home the gold.

“We have a very strong team this year,” says Le Kay.

Taking place at the National Institute of Higher Education in Kimberley, this year’s event has attracted some of South Africa best university table tennis players.

But the CPUT team is well prepared for the week-long event.

The team followed a stringent training programme during the past few weeks, which was overseen by coach and former CPUT table tennis team player, Rudwin Gertze.

Gertze says the team performed well during their recent league games and also in a number of friendly matches.

“I am sure that they will do well this year,” says Gertze.

Team member Kirshwan Stein, who has been playing table tennis for the past 11 years, says the team is looking forward to showing-off their skills at the tournament.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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A love for the game of table tennis has clinched Genevieve Lentz a ticket to the London Olympic Games.

The part-time Btech Public Relations student is part of the Olympic table tennis umpire team.  

Lentz is currently the highest-ranking female table tennis umpire in Africa and the only one representing the African continent in London.

But the 31-year-old is no stranger to top international games and her umpiring abilities has taken her across the globe.

She has umpired games at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 and the 1st Youth Olympics in Singapore, which was held in 2010. She has also been to the All African Games and participated in tournaments in Switzerland and Moscow.

Looking back at her sporting career, Lentz, who is a high school English teacher by day, says she never imagined her love for the sport would lead to such big things.

“I never had the potential of becoming a prominent player but enjoyed playing socially and being involved in administration. I acquired the passion for umpiring and completed a series of exams including league, provincial, national and eventually international.”

In 2011 Lentz qualified as a Blue Badge Umpire, a group regarded as elite umpires.

Although looking forward to the Olympics, Lentz says it’s a huge responsibility.

“I am nervous because the world’s eyes will be on me.”

By Candes Keating

Picture by Independent Newspapers

Written by CPUT News
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First-year film production student, Anande Kuse, continues to shine in the sport of table tennis.

She recently represented the Cape Town Table Tennis (CTTT) team at the SA Table Tennis championships, hosted by the South African Table Tennis Board in Durban.

CTTT came second, bagging a silver medal in the U/19 team events category, and made it to the group stages in the singles category.

“I’m so happy about the silver medal I received at nationals. I could not play last year when I was in Grade 12. I really worked hard and I’m very proud, “said Anande.

Earlier this year she was elected to represent SA at the International Table Tennis Federation African Youth, Junior and Cadet Championships.

CPUT Table Tennis coach Mfundo Marasi congratulated Anande and thanked the Student Affairs Division for their support.

“As CPUT Table Tennis, we're super proud of her achievements and for representing not only the province, but also our flying CPUT flag high at the national event. We hope the USSA Table Tennis summer games will take place this December 2022, where she'll continue to fly the CPUT flag sky high.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT Table Tennis coach, Mfundo Marasi, was recently elected as the chairperson of University Sports South Africa (USSA) Table Tennis.

Marasi, who hails from Ezibeleni, Komani, in the Eastern Cape, said he felt humbled and honoured to be nominated for the position and to be representing CPUT at national level.

“I won my first gold medal in 1999 at the SASSU (SA Student Sports Union) Games and ever since then I've been a coach/manager/mentor for CPUT Table Tennis on a voluntary basis until I was formally appointed last year.”

His role as USSA table tennis chairperson will be to lead and manage all table tennis activities at university level.

Marasi said the role would also include ensuring that the status of table tennis is elevated from being a recreational sport to being a competitive sport that produces champions to represent the country at national, continental and international level.

Furthermore, his role would be to assemble, manage and prepare a team that will represent South Africa at the World Student Games in 2023.

“Our role at university level is to nurture and develop table tennis to be a sport of choice and [for it to be] treated on the same level as popular sports like football, rugby, soccer and netball. My role is to develop a sport-orientated university community that shows interest in table tennis and balance their time wisely with their academic commitment. We encourage more women participation and involvement in the sport.”

He said strong bonds needed to be formed with local table tennis clubs and federations and good relationships had to be established with the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB).

“Table Tennis is a great sport that helps and contributes to one's health. It should be played at school, at work, in churches and at all recreational facilities. Creating a healthy sporting nation, will help decrease the level of crime, take kids out of drugs, decrease the high teenage pregnancy rate and also helps kids at school with a healthy body and mind. Only then, academic excellency will be guaranteed.”

Marasi is a father of two daughters, Kamo and Uzuko and describes himself as a change agent.

“I’m a mentor, leader, an optimist by birth, a traditional healer, who is proud of his Xhosa culture. I'm a multi-talented child of God who plays and manages the following sports: rugby, football, athletics, hiking, table tennis and karate. I'm an international volunteer who prides himself about encouraging and promoting the spirit of giving back to my community without expectations.” He said he would give his all to his new role.

“Many thanks and appreciation to Mr Siyabulela Mkhwalo and Mr Mohamed Ally for their support thus far and ensuring CPUT management endorsed and supported my nomination He said he would give his best to represent my CPUT and serve all institutions with humility, pride and distinction.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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