13 May 2020 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Gallo Images
Ewie Cronjé, former director of KovsieSport, pictured in 2012 when he received a Lifetime Award for service to cricket from Cricket South Africa.
An unparalleled sports administrator and expert, and someone who has invested immensely in others. This is how DB Prinsloo, Director of KovsieSport, will remember one of his predecessors who passed away. Ewie Cronjé (80) died of cancer on Monday (11 May).
 
Cronjé played a huge role in sports management at the University of the Free State (UFS) over a period of 36 years. He started as the very first sports organiser at the UFS in 1969, three years after graduating with a BEd. Prinsloo worked closely with Cronjé for many years while at Kovsie Athletics, and later as a staff member for two years before Cronjé retired in 2004.
 
“Ewie was extremely knowledgeable about sports and if you didn’t know how to do something, you could simply go and ask him. He was generous and empowered people. He was a sports fanatic.”
 
“His contribution to sport at the UFS was enormous. The sports fields as we know it today, are thanks to his vision and hard work,” said Prinsloo.
 
During his years of study (1958 to1966), Cronjé represented the UFS at first-team level in rugby, tennis, cricket, table tennis, and squash and he was selected for the national student cricket and tennis teams. He was also a cheerleader at intervarsities.
 
In his time as sports organiser and later director, Kovsies established themselves among the country’s best in athletics, tennis, netball, rugby, and hockey.
He has served on several committees, one of the last being the centenary committee of the UFS Rugby Club. He was the president of Free State Cricket and received numerous awards for his great contribution to sport in South Africa on a number of levels.
 
Apart from being a top sportsman and organiser, the late Cronjé also made his mark as coach and cricket commentator. His youngest son, Hansie, captained the Protea cricket team for six years.
 



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