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10 October 2018 | Story UFS | Photo Sonia Small
Kovsies Dream Team takes the netball crown
The Dream Team from the UFS celebrate their victory after beating Tuks by 63-59 in the final of the Varsity Netball competition.


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The Kovsie netball team has the Varsity Netball trophy, one of the most prestigious in university sport, back in the cabinet. With this, they are now the most successful team in the history of the competition, having won three (2013, 2014 and 2018) of the six titles.

The Dream Team earned the prize thanks to a brilliant performance in the final against the defending champs, Tuks, winning by 63-59 in front of a sold-out Callie Human Centre on Monday 8 October 2018. It was the first final staged in Bloemfontein.

The Kovsies was in the lead after each quarter, but Tuks seemed to ascend in the final quarter, leading by 49-46 with nine minutes remaining. The home team then called the power play (when goals score two points) and during a golden five minutes, they built up a 63-55 lead to seal the match.

It was a brilliant turnaround for the Dream Team after losing twice to the same team in July – with 10 and 18 goals.

“The team played excellently, and I am so proud of their performance. I watched them perform throughout this year’s Varsity Netball series and want to congratulate them on their victory on behalf of the university’s executive management and the entire university community,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State. 

“There’s nothing greater than playing for a great team that supports you and trusts you; thus, every time you go on court you want to give your all for them,” said Khanyisa Chawane, who played centre and wing attack in the final.

“We came a long way; there was no way we were going to give it away once we got to the final. Kovsies have a legacy and this is a legacy we want to carry through.”

Chawane was named the Player of the Tournament. She is the first player to be awarded the best player title in the Premier League, National Championship, and Varsity Netball in the same year.

Centre-court player Sikholiwe Mdletshe also referred to the legacy.

“We are starting our legacy, we knew we had to win, other teams can’t come here and dominate.”

“It is such an honour, the fact that we could do it in front of our home crowd support. We waited very long for this,” said captain Alicia Puren, who played in her final game after five seasons with the Kovsies.

According to Burta de Kock, the coach, the players used the power play in the final quarter very well in which they scored eight goals to four.  “We spoke a lot about being calm and keeping position in those two minutes.” De Kock said the large crowd was a huge advantage. “We’ve never had such a massive crowd before. It definitely helped us.”

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UFS student makes breakthrough in the application of nanorobots
2005-04-21

A student from the University of the Free State (UFS) has made a ground-breaking discovery in the field of microbiology by uncovering a series of new compounds that may in future be used to lubricate man-made nanorobots.

Mr Olihile Sebolai, a full-time student at the UFS’s Department of Microbial- Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, made this discovery while working on his M Sc-study on yeast.

With this discovery Mr Sebolai will also be awarded six prestigious prizes during this week’s autumn graduation ceremony at the UFS.  This university has recognised this exceptional achievement as a build-up to the celebration of national Science and Technology week next month.     

Mr Sebolai’s dissertation on the yeast genus Saccharomycopsis Schionning has been published in an accredited international journal of repute. 

“Words cannot describe how excited I am. I never expected to receive such recognition for my studies.  I am humbled by all of this,” said Mr Sebolai.

The Lipid Biotechnology Group at the UFS recently discovered that some yeasts produce their own water-propelled capsules in which they are transported.  These capsules have different shapes and resemble among others miniature flying saucers, hats with razor sharp brims etc.  “In order to function properly, parts of the capsules are oiled with prehistoric lubricants – lubricants that are produced by yeasts and that probably existed for many millions of years as yeasts developed,” said Mr Sebolai.  

According to Mr Sebolai these capsules are so small that approximately 300 can be fitted into the full-stop at the end of a sentence and are therefore invisible to the naked eye.

“With my studies I discovered many new compounds that resemble these prehistoric lubricants.  These lubricants may in future be used to lubricate man-made nanorobots and are similar in size compared to yeast capsules,” said Mr Sebolai.  The nanorobots are used to perform tasks in places that are invisible to the naked eye and could one day be used, among others, to clean up human arteries.

Mr Sebolai has been interested in the subject of Micro technology since he was at RT Mokgopa High School in Thaba ‘Nchu.  “I was specifically interested in the many possible applications the subject has – in the industry, as well as in medicine,” said Mr Sebolai. 

His next goal is to successfully complete his Ph D-degree.

The prizes that will be awarded to Mr Sebolai this week include:

Best Magister student at the UFS (Senate medal and prize);

Best Magister student in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science and Dean’s medal at the same faculty;

The Andries Brink – Sasol-prize for the best M Sc dissertation in Microbiology;

The JP van der Walt prize for best M Sc dissertation in yeast science;

The Chris Small prize for an outstanding Master’s dissertation; and

Honorary colours awarded by the UFS Student Representative Council

Media release

Issued by:                     Lacea Loader

                                    Media Representative

                                    Tel:  (051) 401-2584

                                    Cell:  083 645 2454

                                    E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

20 April 2005

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