UWC's Director of Sport Administration, Mandla Gagayi, has been appointed by University Sports South Africa (USSA) as the head of Team South Africa for the 2019 FISU World University Games - commonly known as the World Student Games.

The games will take place in Napoli, Italy from 3 - 14 July 2019.

Gagayi said of his appointment: “To me this appointment is special because it is a testament to our joint efforts as a team. I’ll be leading an overseas delegation, and with this comes an enormous responsibility. I think there is no greater honour than representing your country in this way.”

Gagayi will lead a delegation of managers, coaches and athletes to this prestigious bi-annual event. His appointment, announced at the USSA meeting at the weekend, comes after Gagayi led a South African delegation to the Confederation of University and College Sports Association (CUCSA) Games in Botswana in July. There, South Africa won a record 32 gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Gagayi also serves on USSA’s National Dispute Resolution Committee. He has also previously led the country’s delegation to the 2015 World Student Games in Gwangju, Korea Republic and has served as deputy head of the delegation in Kazan, Russia in 2013.

“This appointment serves as testimony to UWC Sport's work towards the agenda of student sport development in our country,” Gagayi commented. “For me, personally, this appointment is very special because it is recognition by my peers of my work.”

WATCH: Gagayi speaks about leading Team South Africa at the 2019 World Student Games