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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

Sought-after fellowship for Deaf Kovsie academic
2012-04-25

 

Magteld Smith
Photo: Provided
25 April 2012

For a Deaf person to achieve academic excellence in a sound-dominated world is extremely challenging, but Ms Magteld Smith sees each challenge as another opportunity.

Ms Smith, a Medical Social Researcher at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Herbert H Humphrey fellowship. She is one of only two South Africans to receive this fellowship.
 
The Humphrey Fellowship Program provides mid-career professionals from designated countries around the world with an opportunity to enhance their professional capabilities through participation and is developed specifically for small clusters of Humphrey Fellows at 18 selected US universities.
 
It was initiated in 1978 to honour the memory and accomplishments of the former Senator and Vice-President, Humbert H. Humphrey. Fellows are selected based on their potential for national leadership and commitment to public service, in either the public or private sector. The programme provides a basis for establishing long-lasting productive partnerships and relationships between citizens of the United States and their professional counterparts in other countries, fostering an exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding throughout the world.
 
Ms Smith applied for this fellowship, but was still very surprised when she heard her application was successful.
 
“Upon receiving the news, in my mind I saw an enormous rotating world globe and I asked my Heavenly Father, "What is happening now?" I saw big libraries with books, laboratories, state of the art technology for people with hearing impairments, big cars, big houses, big trucks, big farmers, big women and the White House with big trouble. Furthermore, I saw how the UFS became the world leader of academic excellence and change for people with disabilities with high technology manufacturing and rehabilitation programmes.”
 
Ms Smith says Prof. Jonathan Jansen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector, is a great asset, because for the first time people with disabilities are high on the priority list.

 

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