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Kovsie coach to assist Ghana hockey

21 June 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Ruan Bruwer

Braam van Wyk, hockey high-performance manager at the University of the Free State (UFS), wants to plough back whatever he can at international level.

Van Wyk has been appointed as assistant coach of the Ghana men’s hockey team. It is only a part-time appointment, as they don’t play that many matches in a year. Ghana is ranked 35th in the world.

He will assist the team in the run-up to the Africa Cup in August 2019, where they hope to perform well enough to get an opportunity to play in the Road to Tokyo qualifier for next year’s Olympic Games.

Van Wyk currently coaches the Ghana players who are based in South Africa.

“I see this as an opportunity to develop the players, but also for me as a coach to grow and to coach at international level. I am excited to try and add value. The plan is to implement it here at the UFS,” Van Wyk said.

He is also the head coach of the UFS men’s team since 2016, as well as the astro manager.

Learned a lot from coach dad

According to Van Wyk (32), who studied environmental management, he already started coaching in his first year of studies while he was still playing. He represented the UFS from 2006 to 2009.

“Between 2010 and 2015, my focus shifted to umpiring and I officiated in 19 internationals of which five involved the Protea men’s team.”

His father, also Braam, is never too far away for guidance. Braam Sr is an astute coach who stood at the helm of many teams over the years, including the Kovsie men and women. He also coached his son while he was playing for the UFS.

“While I was playing, I used to ask him a lot of questions. I learned so much from him and still approach him for advice. He has so much experience and has achieved so much.”

News Archive

Amphitheatre to energise student life on the Qwaqwa Campus

2015-06-11

The Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State is one of the fastest-growing rural campuses.

Since 2010, the campus has, among other things, built two new student residences, which provide accommodation for an additional 500 students. The old disused boiler room, which was used as a storeroom, has been converted into much-needed ablution and dressing room facilities at the sports fields. The Faculty of Education now boasts a Technology, Engineering Graphics and Design Education laboratory. The project was funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

One of the student priorities is a common space in the form of an open amphitheatre in front of the library.

‘’The amphitheatre is a highly-welcomed structure on our campus as it will provide students with an informal environment to study, socialise and meet,’’ said the Campus Principal, Prof Prakash Naidoo.

‘‘We have erected this on an existing space that was already used for outdoor launches and events on the campus, and is in line with our thinking of energising student life on campus. In addition, we have complemented this with the use of solar energy, so that students can just plug in and charge their phones and laptops while they are in the amphitheatre.”

Excited students, Chibi Mosia and Tshilidzi Matshavha, in final-year Chemistry and Chemistry Honours respectively, concurred that the amphitheatre is a good project for the campus.

‘‘It is an important and distinctive feature for the campus as it adds to the growth of our beautiful campus,’’ said Mosia.

‘’It will also enhance the use of alternative energy sources to reduce the campus's carbon footprint,’’ added Matshavha.

The project is worth almost R2,5 m, and took 12 months to complete. The Department of Higher Education and Training also provided the funds for this project.

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