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27 October 2023 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Jóhann Thormählen
Shimlas celebrate Ox Nche with chocolate cake
At the University of the Free State Rugby Club’s Annual General Meeting and prize-giving on Monday, Shimla props celebrated Ox Nche’s World Cup semi-final performance against England and wished him good luck for the final. They ate chocolate cake – something Nche has become renowned for – like he used to do when he played for the Shimlas. Here, from the left, front, are Loyiso Peteni, Frankie dos Reis, Johan Schutte, and Henty Beukes. At the back from the left, are Conley Pieterse and Musa Knosi.

The University of the Free State (UFS), the UFS Rugby Club, and the Shimlas are backing the Boks all the way in the World Cup final and are immensely proud of all the former Kovsies involved.

The UFS community pledged its unwavering support to the Springboks before the World Cup and wishes the team all the best to claim a record fourth title against New Zealand this weekend.

The Kovsies have had either team or management members as part of each previous South African World Cup winning side (1995, 2007 and 2019) and believe the Boks can do it again.

They face New Zealand in the final on Saturday (28 October 2023) at 21:00 in Paris, France.

Five former Kovsies will be involved in the epic encounter against South Africa’s rivals.

Four of them – Jacques Nienaber (head coach), Rassie Erasmus (South Africa’s Director of Rugby), Daan Human (scrum coach), and Bongani Tim Qumbu (strength and conditioning coach) – form part of the Springbok team management.

The former Shimla Ox Nche, who became a national hero after his superb scrum performance in the semi-final against England last weekend, will once again make an impact from the bench against the All Blacks.

“The Springboks are the pride of South Africa, and we are particularly proud of our UFS alumni who are part of the team – both players and coaches. The weekend ahead looks promising for the Boks, and we wish the team only the best,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS. 

Proud Kovsies

“We wish the Springboks all the best for the final,” said Marius van Rensburg, UFS Rugby Club Chairman.

“We would love to see the Boks, and some of our former Shimlas and Kovsies, hold up the World Cup trophy again.”  

Jaco Swanepoel, Head of Rugby at KovsieSport, said it is truly remarkable to have so many former Kovsies part of the Springboks.

According to him, it also shows that the UFS played a successful role in their development.

“We are incredibly proud that they have already gone so far in their careers and that they are flying the UFS flag at this high level in the World Cup.”

Ox example to others

Nche, who was crowned Varsity Cup Young Guns champion in 2014 and Varsity Cup champion with the Shimlas in 2015, played a massive role in South Africa’s 16-15 victory over England.

Van Rensburg and Swanepoel points out Nche’s humbleness as one of his greatest characteristics.

Nche was still staying in House Abraham Fischer on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus when he was playing for the Cheetahs.

“He finished his degree while playing professional rugby,” Swanepoel said.

“It says a lot about his determination, despite his busy programme, to finish his degree.”

“He is an example for every player who puts on the blue jersey.”

According to Van Rensburg, Nche is also very loyal to the UFS rugby club.

“He makes no secret of the fact that he found his feet at the Shimlas. He was a good player at school too, but at the Shimlas he was outstanding.”

“To this day, he acknowledges how good the Shimlas were to him.”

Swanepoel believes South Africa can claim another World Cup title.

“The Springboks just need to believe in themselves and stand together. We wish them all the best for the World Cup final.”

News Archive

Launch of the Africa office of the IIDE
2006-05-25

Attending the launch of the Africa office of the IIDE were from the left Prof Sytse Strijbos (Chairperson of IIDE Europe), Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS) and Prof Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS).

 

Attending the launch were from the left Prof Lucius Botes (Director: Centre of Development Support at the UFS), Dr Samuel Kareithi (Head: Community Development at the Cornerstone Christian College, Cape Town), Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS), Prof Sytse Strijbos (Chairperson of IIDE Europe) and Dr Ezekiel Moraka (Vice-Rector:  Student Affairs at the UFS).

Africa office of IIDE launched on UFS main campus 

The Africa office of the International Institute for Development and Ethics (IIDE) was today (26 May 2006) launched on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein.

“The IIDE specialises in the studying and research of general questions of developmental theory and practices and provides services and support in education, strategic planning, policy formulation, advocacy and capacity building of development agencies,” said Rev Kiepie Jaftha, Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS.

According to Rev Jaftha the IIDE in Africa will focus on the conceptual and normative aspects of developmental processes in Sub-Saharan Africa.  “We want to foster local and international partnerships with various relevant role-players in civil society, the private sector and public sector in the SACD region and later expand our operations to the rest of Africa,” said Rev Jaftha.

The IIDE in Africa cooperates with a similar foundation in Europe, functioning as the IIDE Europe.  This institute was founded in 2003 and its head office is situated in the Netherlands.  The UFS is a funder of the IIDE in Africa together with the Paul Foundation and private sponsors from the Netherlands.

“We have already started with various projects which are in various stages of implementation,” said Rev Jaftha.  Some of these projects include, among others, the broadening of the master’s degree in Christian Studies of Science and Society (MACSSS) which is currently housed at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam to tertiary institutions in South Africa such as the UFS, the University of Stellenbosch and the Potchefstroom Campus of the Northwest University.

“Another project is an investigation into the possibility of initiating a broad development initiative in the poverty stricken Qwaqwa area.  This initiative will attempt to concentrate on issues like the training and empowerment of prospective entrepreneurs in the region, the identification of prospective entrepreneurs for the rendering of development support and the monitoring of the impact of information and communication technology on local communities during the implementation of sustainable development initiatives,” said Rev Jaftha.

“The establishment of the Africa office of the IIDE on the UFS Main Campus is an indication of one of the aims of the UFS to play a role in South Africa and Africa.  It also signifies our aim to contribute meaningfully to research and development and to establish links between the academe and practice,” said Rev Jaftha. 

 

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
26 May 2006

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