Student elected as new USSA Table Tennis Chairperson

Ntuthuzelo Lusithi, a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences student, has achieved another significant milestone by being elected as the Chairperson of the USSA Table Tennis Association.

He was part of the CPUT men’s team, alongside Scelo Mkhetho and Everard Isaacs, which won gold in the team event. Additionally, Ntuthuzelo and Everard secured a second gold in the men’s doubles at the recent USSA Table Tennis Championships held at the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville Campus.

Now, Ntuthuzelo aims to contribute to the development of sports at universities across South Africa. Hailing from Katlehong, Germiston, he takes pride in witnessing the commitment of both players and administrators in supporting youth involvement in table tennis. “I feel entrusted by the players and management to promote our unique sport at the university level and ultimately create an international impact.”

A passionate, driven, and resilient individual, Ntuthuzelo had little reaction when his name was announced as chairperson. Instead, his thoughts quickly turned to his plans for changes and growth in the sport. “My mandate is simple: let’s get to work. I believe that if we want to see change and growth in our sport, we need to put in the effort. This means we will start by improving certain areas so that our neighbouring institutions and the rest of the country can join us.”

During his two-year term, he intends to pursue these goals diligently. Reflecting on the recently concluded championships, he feels he performed exceptionally well, stating, “Some have even said I was their player of the tournament.”

He acknowledges that playing in the Cape Town Table Tennis Premier League was beneficial for his development. “Even though many were against my decision to join the Premier League with my club Duinefontein, I knew it would pay off in the long run.” Ntuthuzelo reached three out of four finals: the team event finals where they defended their gold from the previous year, the doubles finals which they won alongside Everard Isaacs, and the singles final, where he unfortunately lost to Keenen Jooste.

“My performance was inspired by my CPUT team and the effort they put in. I wanted to show them that success is possible.”

He has been playing for about eight years, and during that time, he has achieved quite a bit, especially when he was part of Gauteng Central, where his potential was first recognised. One of his career highlights has been making the USSA national team for two consecutive years and helping to defend their gold medal. "Getting silver at the CUCSA (Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association) Games, where we could have won gold, is a significant accomplishment for me because there’s no greater feeling than representing your country. I made the USSA National Squad again, and I hope we can compete in the World Student Games next year in Germany. That would not only benefit us as players but also promote the sport in our country. I truly hope we can go and compete.”

He adds, “I hope to cause some upsets if we go to Germany because I believe we can make this happen. It’s time for Table Tennis to shine, and that can happen if we are given the opportunity.”

He attributes his achievements to discipline. “There have been days when I didn’t want to train or play, but I still went anyway, and that’s not easy. Having honest friends who keep me grounded and supportive of my goals has helped me, especially when they call me out on my lazy days and keep me in check. My family, friends, and others motivate me because I know that every day, someone out there looks up to me. I want to show that someone from a township can work hard and make waves in the world.”

He draws inspiration from various attributes of different people, including those outside of sports, and combines these lessons to improve himself every day. “Mr [Mohamed] Ally, our Sports Development Officer, has taught me a lot about CPUT sports and high performance, guiding me even behind the scenes.”

He states, “People can expect that I will give my best with whatever resources I’m provided. I have a strong and diverse team working alongside me, and I believe we will all strive for what’s best for the sport.”

Ntuthuzelo, who never backs down from what he believes in, views this as an opportunity to showcase “what I am capable of doing.” He invites everyone to join them, saying, “The more, the merrier! But they should be prepared to have their minds blown; if they are used to ping pong, we will introduce them to Table Tennis.”

Ally commented, “Ntuthuzelo has grown by leaps and bounds since arriving at CPUT. He is multi-talented and never settles for anything less than success.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: boyceap@cput.ac.za