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19 October 2022 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo iFlair Photography
Kovsie Sport stars
The Kovsie Khanyisa Chawane was one of the big winners at the Free State Sport Stars. The Protea netball player was named Sportswoman of the Year and the Springbok rugby player Frans Steyn was the Sportsman and Sport Star of the Year. Here from left are Steyn and Chawane.

A big honour and motivation to work even harder. This is how Robert Summers summed up his emotions after being crowned University of the Free State (UFS) Sportsman of the Year.

The young South African badminton player walked away with the title – the first winner in three years, since KovsieSport did not name top achievers in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Protea hockey player Shindré-Lee Simmons was the KovsieSport Sportswoman of the Year, and the long jumper Joané Gerber the Junior Sport Star of the Year.

They were crowned at the Free State Sport Stars dinner, presented by Central24 and the UFS on 13 October 2022 in Bloemfontein.

Fellow UFS sport star, Khanyisa Chawane, also won a big award. The Protea netball star was the province’s Sportswoman of the Year, while the Springbok Frans Steyn was the Sportsman and Sport Star of the Year.

University appreciation

Summers, who reached the round of 16 (mixed doubles) and round of 32 (men’s singles and doubles) at the Commonwealth Games and won two bronze (men’s doubles and team) medals at the All Africa Championships, is grateful.

“It is a big honour to be part of an elite group – like Wayde van Niekerk, Heinrich Brüssow, Johan Cronjé and others – who have won it before me,” he says.

“I am really thankful to the university, as you are rewarded for you hard work. It is a good thing because it motivates an athlete to work even harder.”

Simmons won the Africa Cup of Nations as part of the South African team, and also played in the FIH Hockey World Cup and Commonwealth Games.

“It is overwhelming and super exciting. To walk away with such a prestige award is amazing. I am honoured and proud to be a Kovsie hockey player and to carry on the brand.”

Grateful and excited

Gerber took part in the World Athletics U20 Championships and achieved a personal best (6,42 m) at the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations (CUCSA) Games.

The UFS first-year student loves life at the KovsieSport Jumping Academy.

“My season started great but then took a dip and I didn’t think it would work out this way.

“It is amazing to think what I could achieve with a new coach, new environment, and new people I train with. Here I am and I won Junior Sport Star of the Year.”

Chawane represented the Proteas at the Commonwealth Games, won the Africa Cup with the side, and played in the Netball Quad Series.

“I didn’t expect the award. There are lots of great athletes in the Free State.

“I feel really honoured and grateful.”

News Archive

Autumn graduation a huge success
2012-04-04

 

Proud academics celebrate their child's achievement.
Salomé Naudé received her B.Med.Sc-degree. Her parents are Prof. Jacobus Naudé and Prof. Cynthia Miller-Naudé. (Senior Professors from the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
2 April 2012


The University of the Free State (UFS) hosted its autumn graduation ceremony on the Bloemfontein Campus last week where the most diplomas, certificates and degrees were awarded at eight different ceremonies in the Callie Human Centre.
A total of 629 diplomas and certificates and 2856 degrees were awarded from Tuesday 27 March 2012 to Friday 30 March 2012.

“Use your degree to improve the lives of people. Do justice,” Prof. Jonathan Jansen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector, encouraged the graduates.

“People know it as a university that chooses restoration over revenge and forgiveness over vengeance.”
Mr. Roland Rudd, a Kovsie alumnus, told students that their blood, sweat and tears had paid off.

Mr. Rudd is a former education student who recently was named the Best Secondary Teacher in the Western Cape.
A highlight of the autumn graduation was when Natalie Jordaan received a standing ovation during the ceremony for the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. She is the first Deaf student in the history of the university to receive her degree. Natalie’s first language is Sign Language.
Marina Viljoen, a recipient of one of the university’s 12 Dean’s Medals, also received nine awards at the Faculty of Law’s prize giving ceremony. She was awarded the degree LL.B. (summa cum laude).
Johané Nienkemper (B.Sc. Hons.) received the Senate’s Medal and Prize as the best honours student at the UFS, as well as the Dean’s Medal as the best honours student in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Potella Sibongile, a Xhosa imbongi (praise singer) and UFS student received his degree in B.Com.Financial Administration. Potella delivered a praise poem to the graduates before they received their degrees, saying they “will now receive a new birth certificate”.

Master’s degrees and doctorates will be conferred at the Bloemfontein Campus on Thursday 14 June 2012.

The graduation ceremony of the Qwaqwa Campus will take place on 12 May 2012. Diplomas/certificates, degrees and doctorates will be awarded during the ceremony.
 

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