Young talent given spotlight

The Free State Sport Stars awards for schools was launched on Thursday, 5 September, at the Centenary Hall on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

Headmasters and other representatives of schools across the Free State were welcomed to the event by the director of Kovsiesport, Jerry Laka.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to shine the light on young sports talent at school level,” he said.

Headmasters and representatives of schools from which finalists were nominated are, from the left, Braam van Wyk (Grey College), Leonard Jacobs (representative of Hoërskool Witteberg), Paul Makhalemele (Navalsig High School), Gys Coetzee (Hoërskool Voortrekker), Anne-Marie Klink (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje), Herman van der Merwe (Hoërskool Fichardtpark), Jo-nelke Swanepoel (representative of Eunice High School), Anton Smit (representative of Hoërskool Sentraal) and Henry Wilken (Hoërskool Jim Fouché). Photos: Lientjie Mentz

Together with Central24, of which BloemNews is a publication, Kovsiesport will host the Free State Sport Stars awards on Thursday, 3 October.

This annual gala event affords the province a platform to openly and proudly boast with the accomplishments of its teams, as well as individual sportsmen and sportswomen, and award them accordingly. Ensuring that this year’s event becomes a night to remember, will be Vanes-Mari du Toit – the host for the evening. The former Protea netball player, who is now an award-winning TV presenter, will share the stage with guest speaker Jaco Peyper, former South African Rugby Union (Saru) referee and member of the Springbok management team.

Young sportsmen and sportswomen who are still at school level, and even those already at senior level, all stand a chance to walk away with a prize after being nominated in any of the numerous categories – in addition to being praised for their hard work, ambition, and accomplishments by a room of their peers.

Keep an eye on Central24’s community newspapers in the Free State (BloemNews, Vista, BloemExpress and VrystaatKroon) for more information regarding this year’s nominations and the evening’s proceedings.

Representatives of the sponsors are, from the left, Gary Brown (Standard Bank), Temba Hlasho (executive director of UFS Student Affairs), Jeannine van Zyl (general manager of Central24), Jerry Laka (director of Kovsiesport), Moey Mohapy and Machawe Dlamini (both of MTN).

Tickets are available at R460 per seat. Alternatively, sport enthusiasts looking to attend the event in a group can book a table accommodating up to ten attendees at R4 600.

The event is scheduled to commence at 18:00 for 18:30.

For more information or to make a booking, call Ainslee Oosthuyen on 074-120-4450.