Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana head coach, was the guest speaker at the 2023 Free State Sport Stars. This successful soccer coach told the audience, among other things, what goes on behind the scenes at her team and how the South African women’s side manages to rise above many challenges. She represented her country 32 times as a player and is the most successful coach of Banyana. Under her leadership, South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 and in 2023 the team became the first South African side to reach the round of 16 at a World Cup.
The Protea vice-captain Karla Pretorius received the highest honour at the awards. She was crowned Sport Star of the Year and it is the third time (also in 2018 and 2019) the netball player walked away with the title. From left are Brendan Jacobs, Standard Bank’s head of business clients in the Free State and Northern Cape, Maryka Holtzhausen, former Protea netball captain and from KovsieSport on behalf of Pretorius, Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Central24, and Temba Hlasho, executive director: student affairs of the UFS. Pretorius and other national netball stars were at a Protea camp and could not attend the dinner. Standard Bank was the main sponsor of the event and Jacobs presented this trophy.
The netball star Karla Pretorius was not only crowned Sport Star of the Year, but also sportswoman of the Year. From left are Teboho Setena, editor: Express, Maryka Holtzhausen from KovsieSport (Sportswoman of the Year in 2019) on behalf of Pretorius and Olebogeng Malotle, SA Breweries regional events manager central region. Malotle presented the award.
Five sports stars were nominated for Sportsman of the Year. From left are, front: Michiel Kruger (blind bowls), Teboho Setena, editor: Express, Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Central24, Ryno Opperman, managing director of Konica Minolta, and Juan Maree (archery); back: Robert Summers, Caden Kakora (both badminton) and Gregg Hobson, director of cricket at Saint Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein and Gerald Coetzee’s coach at school, on behalf of Coetzee (cricket). Opperman presented the awards.
Eight sports stars were nominated for Sportswoman of the Year. From left are, front: Janine de Kock, KovsieSport netball official, on behalf of Khanyisa Chawane and Refiloe Nketsa (both netball), Teboho Setena, editor: Express, Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Central24, Olebogeng Malotle, SA Breweries regional events manager: central region, and Kesa Molotsane (athletics); back: Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport, Estean Badenhorst on behalf of Louzanne Coetzee (athletics – T11), Yolandi Stander (athletics), Maryka Holtzhausen of KovsieSport on behalf of Karla Pretorius (netball) and Caden Kakora on behalf of Nita (Scholtz) Albertse (badminton). Annerie Dercksen (cricket) was also nominated. Malotle presented the awards.
The Protea cricketer Gerald Coetzee was named Sportsman of the Year. The former Knights player made his test and T20 debut for South Africa and was named Cricket South Africa’s International Men’s Newcomer of the Year for the 2022-’23 season. Here from left are Ryno Opperman, managing director of Konica Minolta, Maryka Holtzhausen of KovsieSport, Gregg Hobson, director of cricket at Saint Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein and Gerald Coetzee’s coach at school, on behalf of Coetzee (cricket), and Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Central24. Coetzee is with the Proteas at the One Day World Cup in India. Opperman presented the trophy.
Robert Summers and Refiloe Nketsa were named KovsieSport Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. Here from the left are Temba Hlasho, executive director: student affairs at the UFS, Summers (badminton), Janine de Kock, KovsieSport netball official, on behalf of Nketsa (netball) and Teboho Setena, editor: Express.
The UFS had three nominees for Sportsman of the Year. From left are Lientjie Mentz, editor: Bloem News, Karabo Khanye (karate), Caden Kakora, Robert Summers (both badminton) and Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport.
Christel Basson was the master of ceremonies at the 2023 Free State Sport Stars gala dinner.
The leading school sports stars were honoured for achievements at national level. From left are, front: Khumo Pitso (Hoërskool Sentraal, athletics – T46), Christiaan van der Westhuizen (Grey College, rugby), Miguel Ribeiro (Hoërskool Fichardtpark, fencing), Marno Stopforth (Grey, rugby), Immanuel Veitch (Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool, athletics), Fano Linde (Voortrekker, rugby), Henco Ketterer (Sentraal, air rifle shooting), Cornel Liebenberg (Grey, tennis), Johanco Greyvenstein (Sentraal, karate), Ranon Fouché (Grey, rugby), Thabang Motai (Tlotlisong Secondary School, volleyball) and Jean Erasmus (Grey, rugby); middle: Roechelle van der Merwe (Hoërskool Jim Fouché High, powerlifting), Nonkcubeko Mjaliswa (Goudveld-Hoërskool, netball), Lilly-Ann Theron (Eunice, hockey), Coleen Cilliers, Advertising Manager Central24, Machawe Dlamini, Acting General Manager of MTN in the Central Region, Maryka Holtzhausen of KovsieSport, Taheera Augousti (Eunice, hockey), Ilke de Klerk (Goudveld, netball) and Marnus van Straaten (Martie du Plessis school, swimming – S7, SB6); back: Ezeth Esterhuizen (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje; laser run), Berné Beukes (Sentraal, fencing), Amohelang Biyongo (Sehunelo Secondary School, basketball), Roline Louw (Oranj
The UFS and Central24 honoured school sports teams who are the best in South Africa. From the left are JJ Theron, Grey College first team rugby captain, Taheera Augousti, on behalf of the U18 Southern Free State Hockey Association side, Nina Schimper, Hoër Meisieskool Oranje first tennis team captain and on behalf of the Free State U18 tennis team, Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport, Solange Jacobs, Eunice High School first team hockey and Lientjie Mentz, editor: Bloem News. Photo: Kaleidoscope Studios
The UFS named its club stars for 2023 in various sports. From left are, front: Teboho Mashiya, UFS Qwaqwa campus sport (athletics), Buhle Nyembe, UFS Qwaqwa campus sport (netball), Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport, Teboho Setena, editor: Express, Nokwanda Zondi (football) and Shindré-Lee Simmons (hockey); back: Christell de Kock (tennis), Wernich van Rensburg (athletics), Yolandi Stander (athletics), Tisetso Seodinyane (football), Ané Retief (netball) and Devan van Niekerk (hockey). Annerie Dercksen, Seth Fledermaus (both cricket), Lourens Oosthuizen (rugby) and Charl van Heerden (tennis) were also honoured.
The UFS presented various special awards. Here is Molipa Masoetsa, bronze medallist in boccia at the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled national championships, and Estean Badenhorst, guide of Louzanne Coetzee, on behalf of Coetzee (Para-athletics – T11) and Badenhorst. Coetzee won a silver (1 500 m) at World Para Athletics Championship.
The rugby referee Jaco Peyper, who is officiating at the World Cup in France, received a special award from Central24. Peyper was honoured as Sports Official of the Year. From left are Duncan Pentz, owner of Pick n Pay Preller Walk, Maryka Holtzhausen of KovsieSport, Nina Peyper, daughter of Jaco on behalf of her father, and Teboho Setena, editor: Express. Pentz presented the award.
The Cheetahs were named Team of the Year by Central24. The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup a seventh time in 2023. From left are Duncan Pentz, owner of Pick n Pay Preller Walk, Ross van Reenen, chief executive officer of the Cheetahs, Maryka Holtzhausen of KovsieSport and Teboho Setena, editor: Express.
The former Springbok Ruan Pienaar was honoured with a special award by Central24 for his contribution to Free State sport. Here from the left are Duncan Pentz, owner of Pick n Pay Preller Walk, Gysie Pienaar, Ruan’s father on his behalf, Maryka Holtzhausen from KovsieSport and Teboho Setena, editor: Express.
A special award presented by the UFS went to Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport. He was honoured for being re-elected as secretary-general of the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA). Kesa Molotsane was also honoured for participating in the World Athletics Cross-country Championships in Bathurst and being a South African team manager and athletics coach at the World Student Games in Chengdu, China.
The UFS honoured its junior sports stars by naming the KovsieSport Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year. From left are the junior nominees: Devan van Niekerk (hockey), Wernich van Rensburg (athletics), Christine Meyer (karate), Lientjie Mentz, editor: Bloem News, Johani van Tonder (athletics), Michael Davids (hockey) and Michael Annies (rugby).
The UFS had five nominees for Sportswoman of the Year. From left are Teboho Setena, editor: Express, Elmien Viljoen (karate), Xandri Fourie (netball), Yolandi Stander (athletics) and Janine de Kock, KovsieSport netball official, on behalf of Refiloe Nketsa (netball). Annerie Dercksen (cricket) was also nominated.
The UFS crowned its leading junior sport stars. The triple jump athlete Johani van Tonder (athletics) was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Junior Springbok Michael Annies (rugby) 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.
The top sport stars with disabilities in the province were honoured for their achievements over the past year. From left are Maryka Holtzhausen from KovsieSport, Estean Badenhorst, Louzanne Coetzee’s guide, for himself and on behalf of Coetzee (Para-athletics – T11) and on behalf of Claus Kempen (guide), Michiel Kruger (blind bowls) and Coleen Cilliers, advertising manager Central24. Karabo Morapedi (boccia, BC3) and Vincent Ramochela, ramp operator, were also honoured.
The UFS honoured its sports stars who represented the South African student team at international level at the World Student Games in Chengdu, China. From left are Wernich van Rensburg (athletics), Janine de Kock, KovsieSport tennis official, on behalf of Ester de Kock (tennis), Maryka Holtzhausen from KovsieSport, Lientjie Mentz, editor: Bloem News, Yolandi Stander (athletics) and Robert Summers (badminton).
