Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
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

Kovsies heading to Varsity Netball finals – again!
2014-10-14



The Kovsie Netball side is well underway to hold onto their champion status in the Varsity Netball Championships. On Monday evening, 13 October 2014, they beat NWU-Pukke 51–45 in the semi-final that took place on our Bloemfontein Campus.

The ladies from the UFS established a comfortable lead early on. Despite a strong comeback effort from NWU, Kovsies ended the game as conquerors with their second consecutive final ahead of them for next Monday.

Our team could hardly ask for better supporters, as the crowd roared them on to a winning score. They made the most of every attacking opportunity on court and played an offensive match. This was especially evident during the power plays – a period of time during which each goal is worth two points.

NWU-Pukke managed to fight their way back, coming within a goal of their hosts. But Kovsies went into a well-earned 10–6 lead during the first break. Kovsies’ Danelle Willemse and Ane Botha impressed with their accuracy at the hoop and clinically-executed shots at goal. At half-time, Kovsies had built up to a 27–14 lead.

The home side was in complete control of the game as they went into the final break with the scoreboard at 43–31. NWU’s effort fell short in the last quarter, though, and they could not snatch the victory from the defending Kovsie champions.

Kovsies will face the Tuks team in Pretoria on Monday 20 October at 18:45 for the final of the 2014 Varsity Netball tournament.


We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept