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17 December 2018 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa
Karla takes netball world by storm
Karla Pretorius, vice-captain of the Protea netball team, has become a leading player in world netball.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has produced a number of exceptional netball players over the years, but none quite on the level of Karla Pretorius, who is widely considered as probably the very best in her position.

 

A whole new level


Pretorius, who is completing her postgraduate studies in Dietetics, was already deemed one of the best when she left for Australia at the end of 2016; however, she has since risen to a whole new level. The Protea vice-captain plays for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball league, the world’s leading competition. She is scheduled to return there again next year. Karla comfortably leads the stats with a total of 50 intercepts and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

 

According to the former Australian coach, Norma Plummer, who is now at the helm of the Proteas, “Karla currently has to be one of the best, if not the best, goal defenders playing at this moment in time.”

 

Karla’s ability to come through with speed-anticipating interceptions is something that is so exciting to watch. She is very versatile and can switch from one-on-one to split circle or other defensive styles, explained Norma. She says Karla is light in stature but physically very strong.

 

Keep on improving

 

According to Pretorius, who played for the Kovsies between 2009 and 2015, playing in an environment where every possible aspect gets attention – with emphasis on detail – has benefited her immensely. “Everything is done so professionally to eventually push you to become the best possible player.” Karla explained that she experiences challenges in many fields of her life but has the chance to play with and against the best players with different skills, which helps her to keep on improving and bettering her craft.

News Archive

Kovsies welcomes first-years into the fold
2015-01-20

Three first-year students from the Kestell residence that attended the first-year welcoming.
Photos: Johan Roux


 

Few life experiences are as exciting as becoming part of a university. On Friday 16 January 2015, Kovsies embraced our first-year students into our family after great anticipation.

That evening, first-years and their parents streamed to the Red Square on our Bloemfontein Campus where they were formally welcomed. This event also served to kick off the 2015 Gateway Programme – an orientation programme for all our first-years.

Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations, addressed the first-years and congratulated them on their excellent matric results.

“The fact that you are here is a testimony to the level you are able to work at,” Dr Makhetha said.“You will have fun and make friends at the UFS. Your friends will be from different backgrounds and speak different languages than you. Embrace it all. You are now a part of the UFS family.

President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Mosa Leteane, also reassured first-years that they are where they belong – at a university that inspires excellence.“This is the only space where the university’s international relations give opportunity to first-years to travel abroad with our F1 Leadership for Change Programme,” Leteane said. “It is the only space where the rector openly talks to his students, without having an appointment. It is the only space in our country where no student goes hungry due to our No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme.”

The following evening provided a spectacular live show with well-known artists Karen Zoid and Vusi Mahlasela entertaining the crowd. They performed alongside the Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO) that added even more dazzle to this Gateway/NSH first-years concert.

On Saturday 17 January, the new-comers had an opportunity to visit their respective faculties and get to know the staff and facilities a bit better.

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