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23 April 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Wihan Victor
Wihan Victor, opening batsman of the Kovsie cricket team, was the fourth-highest run scorer at the National Club
The first cricket team of the University of the Free State (UFS) ended the National Club Championship in Pretoria in fifth position, officially making them the country’s fifth-best club-cricket team for the 2018/2019 season. 

They secured two wins – over the Madibaz and Impala – in five matches.

The Kovsies, without two of their stars, Marno van Greunen and Sean Whitehead – due to work and study commitments – ended the tournament on a high on Wednesday 17 April 2019. They thumped Impala, the Gauteng representative, by an emphatic nine wickets on the final day.

The winning margin against the Madibaz was six wickets.

The UFS, who did not qualify for last year’s champs, bowled Impala out for 144 in 33 overs. Wizzard Ncedane led a fine bowling display. The medium-pacer claimed 3 for 49. He was well-supported by Siphamandla Mavanda (2/8), Christo van Staden (2/9), and captain AJ van Wyk (2/33). 

Breezy half-centuries from Wihan Victor (53 off 52 balls, 8 fours) and Stephan van Vollenhoven (54 off 40 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) then powered the Knights representatives to victory with more than 30 overs to spare.

Victor, an opening batsman, ended as the UFS top run scorer. He scored 204 runs in five innings at an average of 51.

Only three other batsmen at the tournament scored more runs.

Wizard was the pick of the bowlers. He claimed eight wickets for 132 runs in four innings at an average of 16,5 and a strike rate of 24,5. His eight scalps were the joint second most at the tournament.



News Archive

Wayde, Karla shine again at KovsieSport gala night
2016-10-27

Description: Wayde en Karla Tags: Wayde en Karla

Tannie Ans Botha, Wayde van Niekerk’s coach,
received a special award from KovsieSport
at the annual Sport Stars Awards ceremony.
From the left, are: DB Prinsloo, Director of
KovsieSport, Botha, and Van Niekerk.
Photo: Hannes Naude


The choice of Wayde van Niekerk as Sportsman of the Year was no surprise, but with this fourth consecutive title he joins select company at the University of the Free State (UFS). The 400 m Olympic champion equalled Franz Kruger’s record for the highest number of successive sports awards for men.

In total, Kruger (discus) was named Sportsman of the Year five times – 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. He is also the most awarded Kovsie sportsman.

Blose and Puren rewarded as junior stars
On 20 October 2016, Van Niekerk and the Protea netball player Karla Mostert were honoured as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at Leopards & Lace in Bloemfontein for a second consecutive year.

It was only the second time that KovsieSport awarded the same sports stars two years in a row – formerly it was Van Niekerk and the Protea netball captain, Maryka Holtzhausen (2013 and 2014).

Kwenzo Blose, who played for the South Africa U20 rugby team at the Junior World Cup, was named Junior Sportsman. The South Africa U21 netball captain Alicia Puren, who helped her team qualify for the 2017 U21 World Cup tournament, was crowned Junior Sportswoman for 2016.

“Wayde van Niekerk gained
unprecedented international
fame, which added untold
value to the KovsieSport
brand.”

Prinsloo proud of high quality
According to DB Prinsloo, director of KovsieSport, his department is proud of the high quality of its sports stars. “Wayde van Niekerk gained unprecedented international fame, which added untold value to the KovsieSport brand. Although Karla Mostert might have experienced tougher opposition from her fellow nominees, she was a real star for the Protea netball team.”

To be awarded, a sports star should be a registered UFS student and comply with specific academic requirements. Van Niekerk (BA Marketing), Mostert (masters in Dietetics), Blose (BA Law), and Puren (Education) meet these requirements.

In order to determine the winners, KovsieSport also uses criteria such as international participation, a contribution to UFS awareness, and excellence in sport.

“To be awarded, a sports star
should be a registered UFS
student and comply with specific
academic requirements.”

Cronjé still holds overall record
Sarina Cronjé holds the record for the most successive UFS awards (five).

Cronjé, a Springbok track and cross-country athlete, was Sportswoman of the Year from 1977 to 1981. The number of titles held by this senior officer at KovsieSport is the most by a woman.

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