Madibaz athletes gear up for South Africa’s biggest university sports showdown, chasing qualification spots and proving their growth across multiple codes
Gqeberha, South Africa (26 November 2025) – South Africa’s biggest university sporting showdown is almost here! Campuses across the country are gearing up for the University Sports South Africa (USSA) competitions, where months of preparation will finally be put to the test. From chess to cricket to golf, this is where varsity athletes measure their progress for the year and fight for rankings, qualification spots and national bragging rights heading into 2026.
One of the players ready to ‘go to battle’ is Madibaz chess star Nigel Bezuidenhout, who will be using every ounce of experience when he heads to Wits University for the USSA Chess Championships from 1 to 5 December.
“It was a steep learning curve for me. That year I got four and a half points out of nine.”
Last year showed steady progress as he notched up five and a half points and now hopes to push his tally even higher. His aim is six and a half points, which could land him in the top 30.
“When you face strong opponents it can have a psychological effect on how you approach each match. If you don’t stay calm, you can be forced into silly mistakes early on.”
While the chess team battles it out in Johannesburg, the Madibaz cricket squad will be in Stellenbosch for their USSA campaign. And they will be led by skipper Jason Raubenheimer, who brings valuable franchise experience under his belt with established teams like Knights, Border and Warriors.
“There is always pressure with these sorts of tournaments.”
Last year’s triumph in Bloemfontein saw the team win the B section, earning them promotion to the top division. Now the challenge gets much tougher.
“The important thing for us is to build on the foundation we laid last season. We want to keep playing good, competitive cricket and playing against the best universities is key for us.”
Back home, the Madibaz golfers might just have a secret weapon when they tee off at the Humewood Golf Club in Gqeberha, also from 1 to 5 December. The classic links course is familiar territory, especially since eight of the 12 players practise there regularly. Madibaz Golf Club president and USSA organising committee member Karl du Preez believes being in their backyard is already an advantage.
“I think home-ground advantage can be a big factor, especially at a true links like Humewood.”
However, he stresses that local knowledge alone won’t be enough, because high-quality golf will be essential if they want to contend.
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