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03 May 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Zimbio
Simoné Gouws
Simoné Gouws (right) in action for the Protea hockey team last year. The defender will be a key player for the Kovsie team in the Varsity hockey competition.
The coach of the first women’s hockey team of the University of the Free State is confident that they can do well in the upcoming Varsity hockey tournament.

The competition works on a gender-rotation system every year. This will be the fourth term of Varsity hockey for women. The Kovsie women has a good record. In 2013 they ended fourth, in 2015 they were second, and in 2017 fifth.

The Kovsies will be facing the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Friday 3 May 2019. On Saturday, the Maties is lying in wait and the North-West University on Sunday.

“I am confident that we will be doing well. If each player plays her role very well, we should reach the semi-final stage. We have put in the hard work, with good progress. We have played three matches so far in 2019 and haven’t been on the losing side yet,” said Luke Makeleni, head coach.

In friendlies last month, the Kovsies drew to NWU (0-0), defeated UJ by 3-1, and had a good win (6-0) against the Johannesburg club, Shumbas.

“We have quite an experienced squad, with seven survivors from the previous Varsity hockey competition (in 2017), so they know what is expected,” Makeleni said. He is in his third year of coaching the women.

The Kovsies have several players with national experience. Simoné Gouws made her debut for the Proteas last year. Casey-Jean Botha, Shindré-Lee Simmons, Antonet Louw, and Lizanne Jacobs have all represented the South African U21 team. Botha is also in the Protea squad. 

■ The Kovsie team: Wiané Grobler, Chane Hartel, Mikayla Claassen, Anke Badenhorst, Casey-Jean Botha, Shindré-Lee Simmons, Esté van Schalkwyk, Nadia van Staden, Antonet Louw, Michelle Ngoetjane, Heraldine Olin, Lizanne Jacobs, Refilwe Ralikontsane, Mielanka van Schalkwyk, Nela Mbedu, Simoné Gouws, Frances Louw, Kia-Leigh Erasmus.

News Archive

Kovsie archer aims for 2016 Olympics
2014-04-24


Sariça Coetzee

For some of us, archery is just something we see on film and television, like in the Hunger Games movies or on the Arrow TV series. Sariça Coetzee, a first-year BA Psychology and Criminology student, however, is almost like South Africa’s very own Katniss Everdeen.

Sariça recently won two gold medals in the division for Junior Women at the South African National Archery Association’s (SANAA’s) National Archery Championships. With the qualifying heats taking place next year, the Olympic Games of 2016, which is just around the corner, is beckoning her.

“I am working hard to get there and would love to go,” says Sariça.

“I train on a regular basis with Riaan Schoeman from Kovsies’ Exercise and Sport Sciences, in order to improve my technique and strength.”

Sariça’s training includes shooting at targets and spending time in the gym.

“I spend about three hours per day, four days a week, on training. In archery it is crucial to be able to keep your body stable when the wind is blowing.”

Sariça, who matriculated at Sentraal High School in Bloemfontein, stared with archery seven years ago.

“We drove past Old Grey’s archery club and I just wanted to do it as well,” she says.

“I begged my parents for almost a year to let me do it. They thought it was just a passing fancy, but I really developed a passion for the sport and had a feeling for archery from the beginning.”

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