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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

21 Icons: 21 Years of Freedom Collection at the University of the Free State
2015-09-02

   

In Prayer and Protest - Sophia Williams De Bruyn

The Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery, in partnership with 21 Icons, is hosting the 21 Years of Freedom Collection, an exhibition specially curated for the University of the Free State.
21 Icons celebrates a heroic past and inspires a hopeful future. The project was launched in 2013 as an initiative that uses film, photography and written narrative to celebrate the lives of extraordinary South Africans. It highlights people who have been catalysts in shaping society, on a local or global level and across a variety of contexts: in a social, political, environmental or artistic sense.

It is the brainchild of internationally renowned photographer and filmmaker Adrian Steirn, whose primary source of inspiration was the life of Nelson Mandela. In one way or another, all of the men and women featured in the project have extended his legacy, making a magnificent impact on South Africa and beyond.

  

Beautiful Sacrifice - Albie Sachs

21 Years of Freedom features 21 icons from the first and second seasons of the project. It includes the last official photographic portrait of Nelson Mandela and many of his friends and fellow struggle heroes. Behind each portrait lies a carefully planned concept that captures the essence of each icon, capturing their spirit and distinct legacy.

Among the other extraordinary South Africans featured in this collection, are struggle icons Ahmed Kathrada and Advocate George Bizos, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, human rights and environmental activist Kumi Naidoo, celebrated storyteller Gcina Mhlophe, Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer, activist and musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka, gender activist Sophia Williams De Bruyn and artist William Kentridge.

    

The Full Report - Zubeida Jaffer

The 21 Icons was created as a movement for positive change. By sharing the stories of iconic South African men and women, the intention is to inspire new generations to follow in their footsteps.  With the country celebrating 21 years of democracy but still grabbling with injustices, the message that everyone can do something to make a difference, is portrayed in these powerful and inspiring stories.

Writer-in-residence and well-respected journalist, Zubeida Jaffer, who features among the collection of 21 striking photographs, opened the exhibition saying, “I feel like I’m surrounded by a circle of energy from which I have been fortunate to draw strength …It’s a choice that we make…whether to draw energy from those who are positive and forward looking or to surround ourselves with people who are fearful.  There is a lot to be fearful about in our country. We have lived through very fearful and difficult times.  But to cope with these times, those people and many others have kept their focus on hope.  They have kept their focus on what is possible…and what we would like South Africa to be in the future.”

For more information on 21 Icons: 21 Years of Freedom Collection contact the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery at +27 (0)51 401 2706 or dejesusav@ufs.ac.za

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