The University of the Free State (UFS) has a rich history of producing national and international sporting heroes.
These include Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Springboks, as well as Protea hockey, cricket and netball players to name a few. Also many sports administrators, medical personnel and coaches at the highest level.
In 2022 the KovsieSport winners were Robert Summers (Sportsman), Shindré-Lee Simmons (Sportswoman) and Joané Gerber (Junior Sport Star of the Year). The UFS crowns its top performers at the Free State Sport Stars dinner, presented by Central24 and the UFS, on 12 October 2023 at Monte Bello in Bloemfontein.
It will honour suitable international achievements from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. The UFS will name its Sportsman, Sportswoman, Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year from the following nominees:
Michael Annies (rugby)
The Shimla backline player represented the Junior Springboks at the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The South African U20 team finished third at the tournament.
Michael Davids (hockey)
Michael Davids
The Kovsie goalkeeper represented the South African U21 men’s team at the SA Youth Challenge, a series between the SA U21 and SA U18 teams, in Bloemfontein.
Annerie Dercksen (cricket)
Annerie Dercksen
Annerie Dercksen made her T20 international debut and represented South Africa in the T20 Tri-Series, against India and the West Indies, before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The all-rounder, who has played three T20 internationals, was selected for the final Protea T20 World Cup squad in South Africa. Although she didn’t play a World Cup game, the team was the first-ever South African cricket side to reach a World Cup final.
Xandri Fourie (netball)
Xandri Fourie
Fourie was a member of the South African team that made history in New Zealand when it won a first ever silver medal at the Fast5 World Series.
Caden Kakora (badminton)
Caden Kakora
Kakora represented South Africa at the All Africa Badminton Championships and helped his country win a bronze medal in the mixed team event in Benoni. In the men’s singles, he reached the round of 16 and in the men’s doubles the quarter-finals. In 2022 he won medals at the Botswana International (bronze, mixed doubles) and the South Africa International (bronze, men’s doubles). In 2023 Kakora won two medals at the Cameroon International (bronze, men’s doubles; bronze mixed doubles).
Karabo Khanye (karate)
Karabo Khanye
Khanye won two medals at the African Karate Federation (UFAK) Region South Championships. He claimed a silver (U21 kumite -60kg division) and bronze medal (senior team kumite) at the event in Harare.
Christine Meyer (karate)
Christine Meyer
Meyer won two gold medals (Kata U18 and Kumite U18) at the South Africa Japan Karate Association (JKA) National Championship and JKA Africa Open. She received national colours and qualified for the Indo-Pacific Cup in Mauritius.
Refiloe Nketsa (netball)
Refiloe Nketsa
Nketsa represented the Proteas in the Quad Series, between South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia, in Cape Town. She also played in the Diamond Challenge between the Proteas, Zimbabwe, Scotland and a President’s XII.
She was an official reserve for her country at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town. Nketsa was vice-captain of the South African team that won a first ever silver medal at the Fast5 World Series in New Zealand.
Yolandi Stander (athletics – discus)
Yolandi Stander
Stander won a silver medal, with a discus throw of 57.89m, for South Africa at the World Student Games in Chengdu. She received a special invitation to represent South Africa at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where she threw the 17th furthest distance (53.39m).
Robert Summers (badminton)
Robert Summers
Summers won three medals at the All Africa Badminton Championships. He won medals in men’s singles (bronze), men’s doubles with Jarred Elliott (gold), and as part of the South African team (bronze) in the mixed team event in Benoni. He represented South Africa at the World Student Games in Chengdu. In the men’s doubles, Summers and Elliott lost in the round of 32 and in men’s singles he lost in the round of 64.
Summers and Elliott qualified for their first World Badminton Championships in Copenhagen. They lost in the round of 64 (men’s doubles).
Devan van Niekerk (hockey)
Devan van Niekerk
Van Niekerk was a member of the South African U21 team that won the Junior African Cup of Nations in Ismailia. The UFS goalkeeper also played for the SA U21 men’s hockey team at the SA Youth Challenge, a series between the SA U21 and SA U18 teams, in Bloemfontein.
Wernich van Rensburg (athletics – 400 m hurdles, 4 x 400 m relay)
Wernich van Rensburg
Van Rensburg was a member of the South African 4 x 400m relay team that won bronze at the World Student Games in Chengdu. He also competed in the 400m hurdles.
At the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships in Ndola, he was crowned U20 African champion in the 400m hurdles. He won gold in a time of 51.04 seconds. The youngster was also a member of the South African 4 x 400m relay team that claimed bronze in Zambia.
Johani van Tonder (athletics – triple jump)
Johani van Tonder
Van Tonder represented South Africa at the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships in Ndola and finished fourth in the U20 triple jump with a leap of 12.20m.
Elmien Viljoen (karate)
Elmien Viljoen
Viljoen claimed a bronze medal (Senior Elite Ladies Black Kumite Open) at the South Africa JKA National Championship and JKA Africa Open.
She was also selected for events such as the UFAK Region South Championships in Zimbabwe, UFAK Karate Championships in Morocco and the Indo-Pacific Cup in Mauritius.
