Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
23 December 2022 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Supplied
Kopano Melesi
Kopano Melesi has been involved with teams such as the USSA U21, South African U20 and U23 sides, and works at the Mahd Sports Academy in Saudi Arabia.

They were ambitious students, in the same study group, and graduated together at the UFS. Only a few years later, three friends from the class of 2015 are in charge of the strength and conditioning of three top sports teams in South Africa.

The former classmates Bongani Tim Qumbu (Springboks), Kopano Melesi (Bafana Bafana), and Tumi Masekela (Proteas men’s cricket) are making sure the best in the country is in shape to compete internationally.

And the trio are not the only sport scientists from their class to excel. Others like Obakeng Molopyane, who did Wayde van Niekerk’s conditioning, are also part of this special group. It all started while doing their honours in Human Movement Science and being mentored by some of the best in the business, like Prof Derik Coetzee, who was the conditioning coach when the Boks won the 2007 World Cup.

Melesi says Prof Coetzee played a big role in their development as they had a good road map to follow. “He exposed us to things in the professional world that a normal student could only dream of. We worked with national teams, domestic and international professional teams.”

“When we went out there, we were not unsure about our abilities and capabilities to execute.” According to Masekela, they were keen students and had great UFS lecturers.

“We would meet up most afternoons after lectures to break down the lesson that we had until we understood exactly what the lesson was about.”

“This included digging into the history of how certain theories came about, then debating on our own thoughts on the topic,” he says.

All three gained experience while still studying. Qumbu worked with the Kovsie Young Guns and Irawas, Melesi with the Kovsie soccer team, and Masekela with the UFS cricket team.

Melesi says early exposure, through ‘volunteering’ at local teams, is key if you want to reach the top.

“I would advise aspiring students to engage with their lecturers as much as possible in class, as they have a lot of practical knowledge about sport science that you will not read in a book,” says Masekela.

 

 


 

Kopano Melesi Tumi Masekela Bongani Tim Qumbu

Kopano Melesi has been involved with teams such as the USSA U21, South African U20 and U23 sides, and works at the Mahd Sports Academy in Saudi Arabia.

 

Tumi Masekela played cricket for the University of the Free State, Northerns, the Knights and Titans. He is now the strength and conditioning coach of the Proteas.

 

Bongani Tim Qumbu (left) worked his way to the top. He now looks after some of the best rugby players in SA like the Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. Here they are at a Bok training session.

Photo: Supplied Photo: Cricket South Africa Photo: Supplied

 

News Archive

Kovsies vs Pukke - Intervarsity results 2005
2005-08-15

Kovsies vs Pukke - Intervarsity uitslae  / results 2005

Sport Spanne / Teams Uitslae/Results
   
UFS
PUK
UV
PUK
Gelyk
Gholf /
 Golf
Mans / Men
1
7
0
1
0
Sokker
 Football
Kovsies -   Pukke Mans/Men
1
3
0
1
0
Soccer UFS Men“B”  -  Pukke Triangle  “A”
1
2
0
1
0
  UFS Ladies“A”  - Pukke Ladies “A”
7
0
1
0
0
Tennis  Mans / Men
10
5
1
0
0
  Dames / Ladies
3
9
0
1
0
Hokkie
 Hockey
Soetdoring -  Oosterhof
1
4
0
1
0
Hockey Roosmaryn   -  Minjonet
1
0
1
0
0
  WNB -  PUK Gekombineerd 
0
2
0
1
0
  VMN -   Wanda
0
3
0
1
0
  Hobhouse  -   Heide
2
1
1
0
0

Netbal
Netball

WNB 1   -  Kasteel 1 
22
17
1
0
0
  WNB 2   -  Wanda 1
26
17
1
0
0
  VMN 1 -  Karlien 1
15
15
0
0
1
  VMN 2 -  VMN 1
8
27
0
1
0
  Roosmaryn   -  WNB 1
13
18
0
1
0
  Soetdoring -  Dinki 1
14
15
0
1
0
  Hobhouse   -  Minjonet 1
12
21
0
1
0
  Marjonein  -  Wanda 2
0
1
0
1
0
Rugby Shimlas -  Pukke
28
48
0
1
0
  Irawas  -   Ibbies
14
61
0
1
0
  UV/UFS 0/21 -   PUK 0/21
7
46
0
1
0
  Colts -  PUK Jongspan
19
31
0
1
0
  UV/UFS 0/19 "A"  -  PUK 0/19 "A"
22
34
0
1
0
  UV/UFS Panthers - PUK Uitnodigingspan
6
27
0
1
0
  Veritas   -  De Wilgers
10
13
0
1
0
  Vishuis   -  Overs
17
25
0
1
0
   JBM -  Veritas
8
10
0
1
0
   Verwoerd -  Heimat
19
0
1
0
0
   Karee   -  Patria
0
5
0
1
0
  Reitz  -  Villagers
15
14
1
0
0
       
8
22
1
Intervarsity opsomming / summary 2005 
 
Kovsies
   Pukke
Wedstryde / Games
31
31
Gewen/ Won
8
22
Verloor/ Lost
22
8
Gelyk/ Drawn
1
1
     

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept