Sports Manager: Basketball
Ben Zwane
T: +27 51 401 2807
C: +27 83 647 5782
E: zwanemb@ufs.ac.za
Callie Human Centre
Room 9
KovsieBasketball at the UFS is a beacon of sporting excellence and community engagement. With a strong focus on competitive play and a robust junior development programme, KovsieBasketball is dedicated to nurturing talent and promoting the sport across campuses. Supported by modern facilities and dedicated coaching, the programme inspires student-athletes to excel both on and off the court, embodying the spirit of athletic achievement at the UFS.
The team competes in the annual Mangaung Metro Basketball Association (MMBA) league, featuring local and university teams within the Mangaung region. The KovsieBasketball team practises three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 18:00 to 19:30.
Since 2018, KovsieBasketball has successfully implemented a Junior Programme aimed at promoting basketball in schools that lack the sport. This initiative serves as an outreach to identify and recruit potential Kovsie players from across the UFS community.
Annual Campus Events
Each year, KovsieBasketball hosts a series of dynamic events that showcase the university's vibrant sporting culture.
- First-year Gateway Pride Cup: An introductory sporting event for first-year students, combining recreational sports with talent scouting for campus residences and upcoming leagues.
- Campus League: Open to both on-campus and off-campus students, featuring competitive men’s and women’s teams.
- Intravarsity: A recreational sports programme spanning both the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein campuses, inviting participation from various higher learning institutions.
Excellence
KovsieBasketball proudly holds affiliation with University Sports South Africa (USSA). Recently, the women’s team clinched the 2023 Group C Championship title and has since been promoted to Group B. The men’s team has also achieved promotion to Group B, with the USSA Basketball Group B Tournament scheduled for December 2024.
Facilities
KovsieBasketball’s facilities are situated adjacent to the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus. The outdoor courts feature four multipurpose playing areas, secured by fences and gates, and equipped with well-maintained ablution facilities and dressing rooms.
Floodlit basketball courts are also available on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus, supporting various team activities throughout the day and night, ensuring continuous development in dribbling, passing, and shooting skills among players.
"Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just illusions.
- Michael Jordan, American basketball player