Mthi Mthimkulu was crowned Sportsman of the Year. He was part of both the men’s and mixed 4x400m teams that qualified for the World Athletics Senior Track and Field Championships, with a gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay.
Sport stars from across the Free State once again gathered for the glamorous Free State Sport Stars awards in Bloemfontein. The best sportsmen and sportswomen were celebrated for their achievement at the gala event hosted by Novus Media and the University of the Free State (UFS). Standard Bank was the main sponsor of the event. Top-performing athletes − from schools, all the way to senior level − as well as sponsors, coaches and official guests gathered at Monte Bello Estate on 9 October to celebrate the top athletes in the Free State. Mlungisi Louw took the photos.
Paralympic athlete Louzanne Coetzee was the main speaker at the Free State Sport Stars gala event of 2025. Coetzee had been named the Free State Sport Star of the Year for 2024, as well as the Sportswoman of the Year for the year in question.These athletes achieved top performances as sport stars with disabilities. From the left are Anché de Bruin (Novus Media Community News), Lizelle Cronje (representing Naledi Nhlapo), Nicolas Newman, Arina Nicolaisen and Martie Marina (Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support at the UFS).The UFS and Novus Media recognised school teams ranked first in South Africa. The athletics team of Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool was named the national champions in the SuperSport Schools competition. The Grey College Football team was ranked the number-one school team in South Africa. From the left are Patrick Malokase (Grey College Football coach), Kgotso Ntseki (Grey College Football captain), Madré Marais (chief subeditor of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape), Andi Wolmarans (representative of Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool) and Maryka Holtzhausen (Kovsiesport management).Netball player Bianca Lubbe has been named Kovsiesport Junior Sportswoman of the Year. Lubbe was part of the Crinums team that won the silver medal in the Telkom Netball Championship. She also took part in the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, where she was part of the team that finished fourth. With Lubbe are Prof. Mogomme Masoga (dean of humanities at the UFS) and Jeannine van Zyl (general manager of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape).Netball player Rolene Streutker has been named Kovsie Sportswoman of the Year. Streutker was part of the Kovsie team that won the Varsity Netball Tournament for the fifth time in 2024. She was also named player of the tournament. She is part of the 2025 team for the same tournament. Rolene plays for Nottingham Forest in the England Netball Super League. Reratilwe Letsoalo accepted the award on her behalf. From the left are dr Temba Hlasho (executive director from the division of student affairs at the UFS), Letsoalo and Jeannine van Zyl (general manager at Novus Media).Ernesta Strydom was named Official of the Year. Her dedication to para-athletics reached new heights when she was honoured at the South African Sport Honours ceremony at Sun City in August, receiving recognition in the technical official category for para-athletics. This prestigious acknowledgement reflects her sustained excellence and commitment to the sport at the highest level. With her are, from the left, Teboho Setena (editor of BloemExpress), Noleen Petersen (Novus Media Community News in the Free State and the Northern Cape) and Maryke Holtzhausen (Kovsiesport management).Netball player Rolene Streutker was named Sportswoman of the Year. Mari du Raan accepted the award on her behalf. Streutker was in the Kovsie team that won the Varsity Netball Tournament for a fifth time in 2024. She was also player of the tournament. From the left are Dr Temba Hlasho (executive director from the division of student affairs at the UFS), Du Raan, Olebogeng Matlotle (regional events manager central of SA Breweries) and Coleen Cilliers (head of sales of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape).The athlete Mthi Mthimkulu was crowned Kovsiesport Sportsman of the year. He was part of both the men’s and mixed 4x400m teams that qualified for the World Athletics Senior Track and Field Championships, with a gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay. With him Dr Temba Hlasho (executive director from the division of student affairs at the UFS)and Jeannine van Zyl (general manager of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape).Rolene Streutker won the award of Sport Star of the Year. Streutker could not attend the ceremony herself because she is in Australia representing the Spar Proteas in a test series. Reratilwe Letsoalo accepted the award on her behalf. From the left are Dr Temba Hlasho (executive director of student affairs at the UFS), Letsoalo, Kevin de Beer (Standard Bank) and Jeannine van Zyl (general manager at Novus Media Community News).Erich Visser was named Kovsiesport Junior Sportsman of the Year. He played in the opening match for the Junior Springboks against Australia, and the South African team went on to win the U20 Rugby Championship. With him are Prof. Mogomme Masonga (dean of humanities at the UFS) and Jeannine van Zyl (general manager of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape).The Kovsies netball team won the award as Sport Team of the Year, noting accomplishments from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. From the left are Noleen Peterson (Novus Media Community News), Xandri Fourie, Jerry Laka (director of Kovsie Sport), Reratilwe Letsoalo and Madré Marais (chief subeditor at Novus Media Community News).
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