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Netball star Sne Mdletshe hopes to inspire excellence

31 October 2022 | Story Samkelo Fetile | Photo Tania Allen

Sikholiwe “Sne” Mdletshe’s passion and performance on the netball court makes her a force to be reckoned with. A fierce sportswoman and strong academic, Sne’s passion for her craft is also about inspiring those around her, and the next generation. This star netball player at the University of the Free State (UFS) scooped several Player of the Match awards during the 2022 Varsity Netball tournament, and she was also a clear crowd favourite. Despite the Kovsie netball team suffering a defeat in the semi-finals against North-West University (NWU), Mdletshe is grateful for the opportunity to live out her passion on the netball court.

Where it all began

Mdletshe’s love for sports came very early in her life, and it was something for her to savour. “I have always had a passion for sports, whether it was athletics, soccer, or netball. I did it all – from primary school I played all the sports that were there, and in high school as well. I have just always been an active kid, and sports was a way to keep me busy,” she said.

Success and her family’s never-ending support helped motivate her. “My achievements in all the sporting codes really pushed me, from breaking records to getting the victrix ludorum award in Athletics [victrix ludorum is Latin for "the winner of the games", usually presented to the most successful team or competitor at a sports event], to getting Sports Star of the Year. Those were the things that really drove me to pursue and focus on sport. And of course, my family that pushed and supported me every step of the way.”

Balance between academics and sport

In 2019 Mdletshe captained the South African under-21 netball team while completing her BCom Accounting degree (which she completed cum laude). In 2020 she captained the UFS netball team. She also received her first call-up to the national Proteas netball team, for which she now has two caps. In 2021 she completed her BCom Accounting honours degree and is currently pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in Chartered Accountancy. She believes that it is all possible through balancing, and she also hopes the next generation of students is encouraged to do extramural activities like sport.

“I came to the UFS in 2017 to study and play netball. Throughout the years, my lecturers have really helped me to find the perfect balance between academics and netball. The same can be done for the next generation of students, and a lot more can be achieved, individually and for Kovsie Sport as a programme.”

SA netball making strides

Mdletshe said she is not dissuaded by the slow growth of netball in South Africa. “Netball’s progress in being considered a professional sport in SA is steadily growing. We see the progress made in terms of players being paid to play netball. Earlier this year, a squad of contracted players was announced, and I am really looking forward to seeing some more growth and development in netball as a sport, especially it being considered a professional sport in the country, where many more netball players can be brought into the system. Big tournaments like the Varsity Netball Tournament make me very hopeful, and there is already a significant level of growth and interest shown in the sport. The way things are going gives a lot of encouragement to the younger generation who can possibly pursue netball as a professional career.”

Gratitude to all

Mdletshe gave a lot of praise to the Kovsie community. “I am honoured to have represented the UFS in varsity sports. For my performances, I would like to thank the coach and all my teammates for always pushing me. Gratitude to all the role players and most importantly to all our fans, who came out in numbers to rally behind us.”

She added: “Your journey in sports and in life will not be the same as the person next to you, and do not let that demotivate you. Take your time, make decisions that are best for yourself, and trust that your path will lead you exactly where your heart desires to be.”

News Archive

UFS takes 70 first-year students to the USA

2010-08-20

Mr Rudi Buys (middle, with tie) with some of the students selected for the F1 Programme
Photo: Gerhard Louw

The University of the Free State (UFS) has announced the names of the first ever group of 70 first-year students that will travel to the United States of America (USA) as part of the university’s Student Leadership Development Programme.

This group of students will spend two weeks at universities in the USA to experience student life and learn about leadership and diversity at these universities.

“This is a first for not only the UFS, but also for South Africa and we are incredibly proud. The programme is unique to any other student leadership development programme in the country. We are leading the way and are taking students to live and learn amongst students at various universities across the USA,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS.

The programme was one of the goals of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, which he aimed to realise when he was appointed by the UFS in 2009.

“With the programme we want to develop participants’ thinking and capacity to lead in the contexts of diversity and change and we hope to direct them to programmes leading change in student life in general upon their return,” Mr Buys said.

The 70 students will leave for the USA on 22 September 2010. After spending some time there and learning more about their American peers’ lives and culture, they will return to the UFS on 7 October 2010.

“We took great care in selecting the 70 participants. They are representative of all our students, as well as students from our Qwaqwa Campus,” said Mr Buys.

A rigorous selection process was followed, which focused on the students’ academic excellence, their participation in student- and residence-life programmes and their interest in growing in the areas of, amongst others, leadership, diversity and citizenship. Each candidate had to undergo a pre-selection process, followed by a panel interview consisting of staff from various faculties and divisions at the UFS.

The students will stay in groups of about ten at the various universities, which include universities such as Cornell University, New York University, the University of Massachusetts, the Appalachian State University and Virginia Polytechnic University. “These universities will provide our students with accommodation and will present various academic and cultural programmes which our students will participate in and learn from,” said Mr Buys.

“We have also put a programme in place to prepare our students thoroughly for the trip. Because some of them have never travelled on an aeroplane, let alone travelled to a foreign country, we have made arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs for assistance with travel documentation, as well as special arrangements with the USA Embassy for assistance with visas. They will also be attending workshops focusing on, amongst others, research, leadership and diversity before their departure on 22 September 2010.

“Upon their arrival in the USA the group of students will firstly be taken to Washington DC where they will be briefed about American customs, etc. From there they will be placed at the various universities,” said Mr Buys.

Upon their return the students must be involved in student-life programmes on campus, establish volunteer programmes and initiate and establish mentoring programmes for their fellow students. “We want them to give back what they have learnt and experienced,” said Mr Buys.

“We are planning on implementing the Student Leadership Development Programme as an annual programme and are looking forward to this incredible programme through which this group of first-year students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to be true ambassadors of South Africa and, in particular, the UFS, as they leave for the USA,” he said.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za
20 August 2010

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