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18 October 2018
Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games
Peter Makgato, Emmarie Fouché, Lynique Beneke, and Sefako Mokhosoa at the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games. Fouché was one of the coaches, and all the athletes medalled in the jumps.
South Africa, Africa, and eventually the world’s leading jumping academy.

This is the aim of the Kovsie Jumping Academy, says head coach, Emmarie Fouché. She set the bar high for what they would like to achieve. The academy was brought into life on the Bloemfontein Campus at the beginning of the year and already produced the goods for Fouché to dream big.

The long-jump facilities at Pellies Park have also been upgraded to meet the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“The academy was the vision of Prof Nicky Morgan (then Vice-Rector: Operations) and DB Prinsloo, Director of KovsieSport. I headed a jumping academy at the University of Johannesburg and the university approached me to bring it to Kovsies,” said Fouché, an IAAF-qualified coach.

In Johannesburg, she coached most of the country’s best jumpers such as Zarck Visser, Khotso Mokoena, Lynique Beneke, and Andrea Dalle Ave. Beneke, the national women’s long-jump champion since 2013, followed her coach to Bloemfontein and participated for Kovsies in 2018.

Lots of successes

Beneke is also the national student champion, while Peter Makgato (long jump) and Sefako Mokhosoa (triple jump) both took silver at the University Sports South Africa championships. At the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games, all three Kovsies medalled – Beneke and Mokhosoa with gold and Makgato with silver.

Furthermore, we have Michaéla Wright, who is both the South African and African U20 champion in the long jump, and Paralympian Juanelie Meijer, who ended fourth at the Commonwealth Games.

According to Fouché, Beneke and Makgato act as assistant coaches at the academy with the aim of taking over one day.

News Archive

Open Day attracts thousands
2012-05-02

 

Campus was abuzz with prospective students and their parents finding out what Kovsies has to offer.
Photo: Kaleidoscope Studios
1 May 2012

“It is easier to pass Grade 12 today because we don’t have a standard. However, at the University of the Free State, standards are important.”

This was Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS’ message when he addressed a packed Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus during this year’s Open Day.

“This university is the jewel of the country. Here at Kovsies we take academic standards seriously. You must know who you are in a place where academic standards are extremely important. Anyone can obtain a degree, but here you can get more than a degree. You get an education,” he said to the more than 5 000 learners and parents from across the country.

“It is not only important that you study here in South Africa, but also in other countries. That is why our students study all over the world. You must think out of your comfort zone, have a big heart, achieve great heights and show everyone that you are a Kovsie.

But, it is not all about studying – it is also about being human and reaching out to others. When you come to this university, you will also do other things that will make you proud of being a Kovsie.

Quality looks for quality. Therefore, work hard and study hard because you need to be at a good university,” he said.

The programme consisted of, among others, a spectacular laser show, a performance by Bobby van Jaarsveld and special messages from DW Bester and Sannah Mokone, Rhodes Scholars currently studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

In a pre-recorded message DW, a Ph.D. student in Mathematical Statistics, encouraged prospective students to work hard and persevere. Sannah, doing a Master’s degree in African Studies, said she believes in the future of the African continent. “I believe in our future students and know you can make it.”

Prof. Jansen also introduced some of the university’s recent student achievers such as Jurie Swart, regional winner of the Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Award; Farzana Samuel, named by the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) as the most outstanding student in quantity surveying for 2012; and Sibusiso Tshabalala, one of Google’s Top 10 Young Minds.

Richard Chemaly, President of the Central Student Representative Council (CSRC), said that, by coming to Kovsies, prospective students would become the best person they can be. “We have over 70 student organisations to help you take part in student life activities. So, make use of these opportunities,” he said.

The programme concluded with an introduction to the seven faculties by the respective deans.

The estimated 7 000 prospective students and their parents also had the opportunity to visit faculties and the stalls of residences.
 

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