Celebrating sporting excellence at UFS
The University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated the achievements, dedication and lasting contributions of its sporting community at the 2026 UFS Sports Awards, held on Friday, 16 October, at the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Attended by UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Hester C. Klopper and Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Honourable Ntombizanele Sifuba, the awards recognised achievements during the 2025/2026 sporting season and reaffirmed the role of sport in student development, institutional identity and community engagement.
With approximately 90 nominees representing the breadth of UFS sport, the evening celebrated not only medals, championships and records, but also the resilience, discipline and collective effort of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, support teams and partners.
Celebrating excellence beyond the scoreboard
In her address, Prof Klopper congratulated the nominees and highlighted the demands of balancing high-performance sport with academic responsibilities. She celebrated achievements including the UFS Men's Football team's historic
Varsity Football Championship victory, Gabriella Marais's contribution to a South African relay team that set a national record, and Owami Mohuli's journey to international competition with the Springbok Women's Sevens team.
“How you respond to those experiences becomes part of what you learn at university, too. Sport gives you plenty of practice in dealing with setbacks, understanding what happened, and coming back better prepared,” she said.
During the season, UFS student-athletes competed in provincial leagues, University Sport South Africa competitions, Varsity Sports, the Confederation of University and College Sports Associations Games, FISU championships and other national and international events.
Among the achievements recognised were Dumisani Motloung's gold medal in the Under-23 800 m at the ASA Championships, Mthi Mthimkulu's contribution to South Africa's silver-medal-winning men's 4 × 400 m relay team and national record, and Wernich van Rensburg's bronze medal in the 400 m hurdles at the African Athletics Championships in Ghana.
Mthimkulu received both the UFS Sportsman of the Year and Sport Star of the Year awards. Reflecting on the recognition, he said: “Receiving this award means that there is so much potential in me to achieve bigger dreams. It motivates me to keep striving for more.”
Bringing the celebration back to campus
The return of the Sports Awards to the University campus marked an important moment for KovsieSport. Director of KovsieSport Jerry Laka reflected on the significance of celebrating sporting achievements at the institution where student-athletes learn, train, compete and grow.
After several years of hosting the Free State Stars Awards off campus in collaboration with Central 24, the University welcomed the celebration back to its home. Laka acknowledged Central 24 for its partnership and support, emphasising that sport is integral to the UFS student experience and helps develop graduates who can lead, collaborate and persevere.
Sportswoman of the Year
Parasport achievements were also celebrated. Dingaan Matlebe was recognised as Parasport Sportsman of the Year following his contribution to the Free State Goalball team's silver medal at the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled National Championships. Naledi Nhlapo received the Parasport Sportswoman of the Year recognition for her silver medal in the BC4 Individual boccia category.
Team achievements included the UFS Men's Football team's Varsity Football Championship victory, KovsieHockey Men's defence of their Free State League title, and KovsieHockey Women's sixteenth consecutive provincial league win.
Strengthening university and provincial collaboration
MEC Sifuba highlighted the importance of collaboration between the University and provincial government in advancing sport, arts and culture. She congratulated nominees and recipients and encouraged them to continue representing the Free State and South Africa at national and international levels.
She reaffirmed the provincial department's commitment to identifying and developing sporting talent, emphasising the importance of pathways connecting school and community sport with university and high-performance competition. She also highlighted the Free State Sport Science Institute's contribution to preparing athletes and teams to perform at their best.
Honouring leadership and lasting legacies
The awards recognised individuals whose leadership and service continue to shape sport. Executive Sport Leadership Award nominees included Felleng Palesa Mofokeng, recognised for managing South Africa's Table Tennis team at the CUCSA Championships, where it secured the overall title with 12 medals; Tumisang Motsoane, Second Vice-President of USSA; and strength and conditioning coach Mmanteletsane Mashiloane, for serving the COSAFA Under-15 Qualifiers.
The UFS Sport Legend Award nominations honoured Coach Burta de Kock for more than two decades of
leadership in KovsieNetball, Coach Ans Botha for nearly five decades of coaching excellence, and DB Prinsloo for his longstanding contribution to athletics administration and athlete development.
Alumni recognised included Kopano Melesi for his contribution to the Bafana Bafana management team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup; Karla Pretorius, Khanyisa Chawane and Rolene Streutker for representing the SPAR Proteas at the Commonwealth Games; and Katleho Lechoo for his appointment to the South African Football Association's National Executive Committee.
Looking ahead
The 2026 UFS Sports Awards celebrated a successful season while reinforcing the University's ambition to develop champions on the field, in the classroom and in life.
Achieving this vision requires continued investment in athletes, coaching, facilities, partnerships and support systems, alongside a commitment to inclusion, transformation and responsible leadership.
Laka thanked University leadership, staff, coaches, sport managers, technical and medical teams, partners, sponsors, alumni, families and supporters for their contributions.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only how far we have come, but also how far we dare to go,” he said.
Through KovsieSport, the University continues to position sport as an integral part of student life, building an inclusive, competitive and values-driven sporting culture committed to excellence.