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Nketsa, Summers crowned UFS top student-athletes

24 October 2023 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

Free State Sport Stars 2023 — The University of the Free State (UFS) crowned its top athletes at the Free State Sport Stars dinner. Robert Summers and Refiloe Nketsa were named KovsieSport Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. Here, from left, are Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs at the UFS, Summers, Janine de Kock, KovsieSport netball sports officer, on behalf of Nketsa and Teboho Setena, Editor: Express.

In a spectacular celebration of sporting excellence, Refiloe Nketsa, and Robert Summers were bestowed with the highest honours as University of the Free State’s (UFS) Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year respectively. This prestigious event took place on 12 October 2023 in Bloemfontein, where the KovsieSport awards were presented.

Recognition of remarkable achievements

Nketsa, a Protea netball player, voiced her elation at achieving this pinnacle of her career. She had earlier been a School Sport Star nominee at the Free State Sport Stars in 2019, presented by Central24 and the UFS. Her meteoric rise to senior level has been nothing short of remarkable. Reflecting on her journey, she stated, “Looking at the pool of nominees and all that they’ve achieved, I almost thought I didn’t stand a chance. All I have isn’t because of my doing. Its God ordained.”

Summers, a South African badminton luminary and the UFS Sportsman of the Year for a second consecutive year expressed his gratitude and humility at receiving this prestigious accolade. He highlighted the challenges he faced, including a debilitating injury, making this achievement even more meaningful. Summers added, “It’s incredible having your name on a trophy with the likes of Wayde van Niekerk, CJ van der Linde, and Heinrich Brüssow. Those are big names, and to be on the same trophy is something I will cherish for a long time.”

The Shimla, Michael Annies was named UFS Junior Sportsman of the Year and the triple jumper Johani van Tonder, UFS Junior Sportswoman of the Year.

The highest honour at the Free State Sport Stars went to the former Kovsie Karla Pretorius, crowned Sport Star of the Year.

The Protea netball vice-captain, Pretorius, also received the Sportswoman of the Year and the Protea cricketer Gerald Coetzee the Sportsman of the Year, of the province.

Encouragement and inspiration for the future

Nketsa says it is a big honour being the top UFS sportswoman. She represented the Proteas in the past year and was an official World Cup reserve and vice-captain of the South African side that won a first-ever silver medal at the Fast5 World Series. Nketsa emphasised the motivation this award instils in her, compelling her to intensify her efforts in improving her work ethic and skills.

Likewise, Summers despite his challenges, finds this award to be a silver lining, inspiring him to persevere during rough times. The badminton star won three All Africa Champs medals; in singles (bronze), men’s doubles (gold) and in the South African mixed team (bronze). He also competed at the World University Games in Chengdu and played in his first World Champs in Copenhagen (men’s doubles). “If I look back at the past year, it was probably my toughest year yet,” he remarked.

Perseverance in the face of challenges

Desiree Ellis, head coach of Banyana Banyana and guest speaker at the event, stressed the importance of celebrating athletes and their excellence. “This inspires and motivates others,” she said. “It is also encouraging to see that it is not just elite athletes at the Free State Sport Stars who get rewarded but also the school kids.” She encouraged athletes to persevere despite obstacles, imparting a powerful message: “Results are not always going to go your way but keep going. Keep going and make sure you keep putting your best foot forward.”

Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport, expressed pride in the recognition of UFS athletes, highlighting the unique blend of student-athlete awards and school awards in this event, which serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring young athletes.

The KovsieSport awards stand as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of Nketsa and Summers. Their achievements not only inspire the fraternity but also underscore the spirit of resilience and excellence within the UFS community. As these outstanding athletes continue to break barriers and achieve greater heights, they epitomise the spirit of sporting prowess and determination. Congratulations to both Nketsa and Summers on their well-deserved recognition and to all award recipients in the various categories.

Free State Sport Stars 2023

KovsieSport crowned its leading junior sports stars. The triple jump athlete Johani van Tonder was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Junior Springbok Michael Annies as Junior Sportsman of the Year. Here, from the left are, Van Tonder, Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport, Jeannine van Zyl, General Manager of Central24, and Annies.

News Archive

Link between champagne bubbles and the UFS?

2012-11-16

Prof. Lodewyk Kock with an example of a front page of the publication FEMS Yeast Research, as adapted by F. Belliard, FEMS Central Office.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
15 November 2012

What is the link between the bubbles in champagne and breakthrough research being done at the Mayo Clinic in America? Nano research being done at our university.

Prof. Lodewyk Kock of Biotechnology says a human being consists of millions of minute cells that are invisible to the eye. The nano technology team at the UFS have developed a technique that allows researchers to look into such a cell, as well as other microorganisms. In this way, they can get an idea of what the cell’s “insides” look like.

The UFS team – consisting of Profs. Kock, Hendrik Swart (Physics), Pieter van Wyk (Centre for Microscopy), as well as Dr Chantel Swart (Biotechnology), Dr Carlien Pohl (Biotechnology) and Liza Coetsee (Physics) – were amazed to see that the inside of cells consist of a maze of small tunnels or blisters. Each tunnel is about 100 and more nanometres in diameter – about one ten thousandth of a millimetre – that weaves through the cells in a maze.

It was also found that these tunnels are the “lungs” of the cells. Academics doing research on yeast have had to sit up and take notice of the research being done at the UFS – to the extent that these “lungs” will appear on the front page of the highly acclaimed FEMS Yeast Research for all of 2013.

The Mayo Clinic, in particular, now wants to work with the UFS to study cancer cells in more detail in order to fight this disease, says Prof. Kock. The National Cancer Institute of America has also shown interest. This new nano technology for biology can assist in the study and development of nano medicine that can be used in the treatment of cancer and other life threatening diseases. Nano medicine uses nano metal participles that are up to one billionth of a metre in size.

Prof. Kock says laboratory tests indicate that nano medicine can improve the efficacy of anti-cancer medicine, which makes the treatment less toxic. “According to the Mayo Clinic team, nano particles are considered as a gold cartridge which is being fired directly at a cancer tumour. This is compared to fine shot that spreads through the body and also attacks healthy cells.”

“This accuracy implies that the chemotherapy dose can be lowered with fewer side effects. The Mayo Clinic found that one-tenth of the normal dosage is more effective against pancreas cancer in this way than the full dosage with a linkage to nano particles. According to the clinic, this nano medicine could also delay the spread of cancer,” says Prof. Kock.

The nano particles are used as messengers that convey anti-cancer treatment to cancer cells, where it then selectively kills the cancer cells. The transport and transfer of these medicines with regard to gold nano particles can be traced with the UFS’s nano technology to collect more information, especially where it works on the cell.

“With the new nano technology of the UFS, it is possible to do nano surgery on the cells by slicing the cells in nanometre thin slices while the working of the nano medicine is studied. In this way, it can be established if the nano medicine penetrates the cells or if it is only associated with the tiny tunnels,” says Prof. Kock.

And in champagne the small “lungs” are responsible for the bubbles. The same applies to beer and with this discovery a whole new reach field opens for scientists.

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