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KovsieCricket honoured at Mangaung Cricket Association AGM: ‘Accolades are the result of unwavering dedication’

05 June 2025 | Story Vuyelwa Mbebe and Aimee Barlow | Photo Supplied

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) KovsieCricket club was honoured with two of the most significant awards at the recent Mangaung Cricket Association Annual General Meeting (MCA AGM).

First, KovsieCricket was crowned MCA Premier League Champions, marking a remarkable twelfth consecutive title in the region’s top league. Later, the club was named the Best Run Cricket Club in the Free State, a recognition that goes beyond match victories.

The MCA AGM, which reflects on the regional cricketing year, this year included key updates from MCA Chairperson Donavin George, a review of the season’s performance, and the election of the executive committee for the new term. The AGM also celebrates excellence, dedication, and growth within the sport during the preceding year.

Rocky le Roux, Head of Cricket at the UFS, reflected on the evening’s achievements by attributing them to the unified effort of everyone involved in the club. “These accolades are the result of unwavering dedication from our players, coaches, management, and support staff,” he said. “Our student-athletes lay the foundation with their performances, but none of this would be possible without the people working tirelessly behind the scenes. Teamwork, long-term planning, and a shared vision have allowed us to achieve this consistency.”

The Best Run Cricket Club award serves as a powerful validation of the systems and values in place at KovsieCricket, Le Roux said, adding that awards of these types are not only a source of pride but are instrumental in attracting top talent from around the country. “They show young cricketers that KovsieCricket is a place where they can grow, compete, and thrive – not just on the field, but as professionals and leaders.”

With regional dominance firmly established, KovsieCricket’s sights are now set on national excellence. Le Roux believes that becoming the best cricket club in South Africa is a realistic goal, but one that will require strategic growth in several key areas. He emphasised the need for permanent, experienced coaches to guide development, an even stronger recruitment network, facilities that meet national standards, and a culture of belonging that inspires players to invest fully in the club. He also stressed that consistent exposure to higher levels of competition and a focus on mental resilience will be critical in the journey ahead.

As KovsieCricket celebrates these milestones, Le Roux extended heartfelt gratitude to those who make the journey possible. He acknowledged Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport at the UFS, the KovsieSport team for their unwavering support, the players and coaches for their commitment to excellence, and Francis Marais, Supervisor of the sports grounds and grounds staff, for consistently preparing top-quality pitches. He also thanked the Mangaung Cricket Association for their continued efforts in running competitive leagues and providing the resources that help the game thrive in the Free State.

With another successful season behind it, KovsieCricket looks to the future with confidence and ambition. Trophies alone do not define the legacy they are building – rather, their culture of excellence, community, and purpose sets the standard for university cricket in South Africa and beyond.

News Archive

UFS responds to media reports about UFS101

2012-08-18

The UFS101 is a cross-disciplinary module of the University of the Free State (UFS) that encourages critical thinking and offers access to knowledge beyond the specific qualifications for which students are registered. This is a multi-disciplinary academic curriculum that includes topics in astronomy, nanotechnology, history, law, anthropology and religion.

Throughout the seven units students are taught to think broadly rather than narrowly, and critically rather than through rote-learning.

The core curriculum module raises some difficult questions about science, humanity and the universe that have occupied human beings for centuries. There is considerable effort put into the module to enable balance, respect, and independent thinking. Students are not taught what to think but are offered different perspectives on difficult issues.

“In my unit on the question ‘how should we deal with the past?’ every effort is made for students to examine the perspectives on history held by people from different communities in South Africa,” said Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.

Students are then encouraged to speak in class, online and in tutorial groups where they are given ample opportunities to take a position and defend it not through emotion and anger, but through logic and reason.

The objective of the module is to equip students to deal with “the present past” in constructive and empathetic ways. They are also prepared to become active citizens outside the classroom and gain skills they can use anywhere in the world.

Some students find the module difficult at first, since most of them are not used to the practice of critical thinking and dealing with difficult questions from the past, the present and the future. Most students gradually come to enjoy the core curriculum module as they become accustomed to a new style of teaching and learning.

There are 700 first-year modules at the UFS. This is the only one module offered to students in English so that all students, local and international, can engage with one another directly on the subject matter discussed in the module. However, the module material is also available in Afrikaans online.It is a pity that AfriForum Jeug Kovsies did not discuss their concerns with the presenters of the module, but chose to do it through the media.

It is a pity that AfriForum Jeug Kovsies did not discuss their concerns with the presenters of the module, but chose to do it through the media.

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