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30 January 2018 Photo Johan Roux
Former Bok gives back to his alma mater
Wian du Preez, new head coach of the Shimlas U-20 team.

After a long and stellar career as a rugby player, Wian du Preez felt it would be unfair not to give something back to the game that had treated him so well.

Du Preez has been appointed as the new head coach of the Shimlas U-20 team, better known as the Kovsie Young Guns. They participate in the Varsity Young Guns competition.

Former Springbok
The 35-year-old Du Preez, a former Springbok, retired in 2016. He now works as a financial advisor at Jenwil BlueStar Financial  Advisory Services in Bloemfontein.

“Making the step from a professional rugby player to the corporate world was a difficult one. Thus, coaching provides me with the opportunity to stay involved in the game and to get out of the office.

Giving back
“I thought it would be nice to give something back after receiving so much from rugby. Having the opportunity to work with youngsters, you can help shape them for a career in rugby, should that be something they aspire to.”

Du Preez is a former Shimla himself, having worn the blue jersey between 2002 and 2004 whilst studying for his BCom (Investment Management and Banking).

Both his parents work at the university. His mother, Lizette, is semi-retired, but still acts as part-time assistant at the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French.

His father, Prof Chris du Preez, was the head of the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences and was a lecturer. In his final year before he goes on pension, he assists postgraduates with their studies.

News Archive

Crossing borders, merging boundaries
2014-02-25


Photo: Johan Roux

Senior and first-year international students recently experienced the warm embrace of the university. The Office for International Affairs and the SRC International Affairs hosted a welcoming gala dinner for their students.

SRC member: International Student Council, Brian Hlongwane, emphasised why this group is so important to the university – helping to ensure the international students feel that they are an integral part of our three campuses.

Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, encouraged these students to immerse themselves in campus life in order to help build bridges between cultures. “Own your space, engage in and facilitate conversations around issues at this university. Do not hold back and become a spectator, know that you have the same responsibilities as any registered student at the UFS,” Buys said.

Dineo Gaofhiwe-Ingram, Head of the Office for International Affairs, spoke about the complexities of the country that international students now face. She urged students to find their role in the student community across the three campuses. In addition, they need to know their rights as well as their responsibilities. “You all deserve to be treated, and taken well care of, like any other registered student on this campus. Nothing should set you apart from the rest,” Gaofhiwe-Ingram stressed.

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