Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS Welcomes Mokete Tsotetsi as the new KovsieFootball Head Coach

06 August 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Tshepo Tsotetsi

New Coach — Coach Mokete Tsotetsi (left) is warmly welcomed by Jerry Laka (right), Director of KovsieSport, following his appointment as the new Head Coach of the KovsieFootball men’s team at the University of the Free State.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to announce the appointment of Coach Mokete Tsotetsi as the new Head Coach of the KovsieFootball men’s team. With this significant appointment, the UFS marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in its football programme under the leadership of a seasoned professional with deep roots in South African football.

Coach Tsotetsi, a former South African international defender, brings with him not only a decorated playing history, including stints with Jomo Cosmos, Kaizer Chiefs, and Bloemfontein Celtic, but also a wealth of experience in developing athletes into disciplined, high-performing individuals. Known during his playing days as a hard-working and hard-tackling defender, Coach Tsotetsi is no stranger to commitment and excellence – qualities that strongly align with the values of the UFS.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Mokete Tsotetsi as the new Head Coach of KovsieFootball,” says Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport. “Coach Tsotetsi brings a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership to our football programme, and we are excited about the future under his guidance.”

More than just a coach, Coach Tsotetsi is recognised as a mentor and leader who sees sport as a vehicle for holistic student development. His appointment signals the UFS’ intent to elevate the performance and culture of KovsieFootball, both on and off the field.

“This is a new era for our football programme,” continues Laka. “We believe that Coach Mokete will bring a winning mentality and a positive culture to our team. We are confident that he will inspire our players to achieve great things. A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.”

Although Coach Tsotetsi and his team are under pressure with the tournament fast approaching, he assures the UFS community that he will not bring one-dimensional football, but tactical and entertaining football.

The UFS community is encouraged to extend a warm Kovsie welcome to Coach Tsotetsi as he embarks on this journey. With the tournament commencing tomorrow, 7 August 2025, we encourage you to stay informed about the team's upcoming fixtures. Their opening match will be against UP-Tuks Men's Football at 19:15, followed by a second fixture against UJ Men's Football on 14 August 2025.

To stay updated on their full schedule, please click here.

News Archive

Vice-Chancellor to receive prestigious lifetime achievement award in the United States

2013-05-23

23 May 2013

- Acceptance Speech

The University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to announce that yet another major international award will be bestowed on the Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen.

On 3 June 2013 the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for Africa will be added to the multiple international and local achievements and awards Prof Jansen has received over the past months.

He will receive the award at a gala dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, United States. The glamorous event is hosted in collaboration between Education Africa and Brand South Africa. Prof Jansen will join an illustrious list of recipients, including Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Richard Branson and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

“I am deeply humbled by this award which I dedicate to the great teachers of our country, who under difficult conditions make our schools work for children of the poor; they are the real heroes of education," says Prof Jansen.

The Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for Africa is a highly regarded recognition on the world stage, awarded to individuals who focus the attention of the global community on the obstacles some of the poorest African nations face.

“He is a pioneering South African educator who is successfully transforming what was once a bastion of apartheid-era segregation and ideology into one of his country’s most inclusive and dynamic institutions of higher learning,” the organisers said in a statement.

As an extra honour to the UFS, one of its Council Members will also receive an award together with Prof Jansen at the ceremony in New York City next month. Ndaba Ntsele, also the Executive Chairman of Pamodzi Gold Limited and President of the South African Black Business Council, will receive the Education Africa Allegiance Award. This award is given to persons for their ‘steadfast support of the organisation [Education Africa] over many years.”

Prof Jansen’s other recent international awards and honours include the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance from the University of California in the US and membership of the Laureate Chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honour Society in Education.

For more information on these as well as the other awards Prof Jansen has recently received, click here.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept