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24 December 2022 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Asem Engage/Hannes Naude
Sello Diphoko
Sello Diphoko was the Man of the Match in his last Varsity Football game for the University of the Free State.

Come to Kovsies and go places!’ is a motto used at Kovsie Soccer, and Sello Diphoko’s journey exemplifies this. The UFS striker’s humble beginnings and rise to the United States of America is one that inspires.

Two years ago, he didn’t even play club soccer, but he was scouted by the UFS and given an opportunity that changed his life. Diphoko recently received a scholarship at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Playing street football

It all started in February 2020 when he was invited to UFS soccer trials by a friend, Lwanda Ciko, who is also from Soutpan outside Bloemfontein.

“Before I came here, I was playing street football,” says Diphoko. “I have never played in a professional or semi-professional league; I came straight from the streets.” And it took Tebogo Motsamai, UFS head coach, only 25 minutes to identify his talent.

According to Godfrey Tenoff, Diphoko was attending Motheo College and gained access to the UFS through the University Preparation Programme.

“We are totally proud of Sello,” says the Head of Soccer at KovsieSport. “He is a perfect example of preparation meeting opportunity and that opportunity creating a great opportunity.”

In 2021, his Varsity Football debut year, Diphoko was crowned Player of the Tournament and received the Golden Boot award. A year later, he can barely believe it happened. “Yoh. It is huge! But it was all about the teamwork and support I got from my teammates.”

Changing students’ lives

A few South African teams wanted to sign him up, but his education was non-negotiable. A move abroad was eventually the best for Diphoko’s career – on and off the pitch.

Tenoff says the “talent identification pathway has now been paved”. The UFS understands the processes, what it is capable of, and it shows the university can equip and prepare students for international opportunities.

“It says that KovsieSport is serious about changing the lives of the students that come into our programme. It tells me that we have the will to make a way for our students. This is a small part of what is to come in KovsieSport, Kovsie Soccer, and the UFS.”

News Archive

UFS obtains a court interdict
2008-03-07

The University of the Free State (UFS) today (Thursday, 6 March 2008) obtained a court interdict to maintain calm on the Main and Vista Campuses in Bloemfontein.

The interdict was obtained in view of the fact that a number of outside organisations are planning to hold mass demonstrations on the Main and Vista Campuses of the UFS in the coming weeks.

Since the publicising of the Reitz video, the situation on the Main Campus continues to be tense, with sporadic incidents of disruptions and intimidation. The campus is also in a period where students are writing tests and need to prepare for these tests.

The management is of the view that mass protests on the campuses under the current circumstances will worsen the already tense situation. We feel that it is important for our students to continue their academic work and to deal with the issue of the video in a constructive environment.

The interdict is supplementary to the previous one that was obtained by the UFS on 21 February 2008 and is applicable to all registered students for 2008, staff, and outside persons.

The interdict prohibits the following activities among others: a gathering, demonstration, picketing, the holding of a meeting, forming of a protest march or to convene in a group in the open air on any campus of the UFS.

Media Release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 3422
Cell: 072 207 8334
E-mail: fishera.stg@ufs.ac.za  
6 March 2008

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