BLOEMFONTEIN: The University of the Free State’s (UFS) men’s football team is celebrating having its name immortalised in the history of South Africa’s premier university tournament, the Varsity Sports tournament. The Kovsies lifted the coveted Varsity Football trophy after beating the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 5 − 4 on penalties in the final played on Thursday, 2 October, in Bloemfontein.
It took a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the 2025 tournament, and the UFS men emerged victorious. This was the first time the Kovsies football team had reached the final and went on to lift the sought-after trophy. This achievement saw them join their peers − the men’s rugby team known as the Shimlas, and the women’s Kovsie netball team − with the netball team boasting five titles since the inception of the Varsity championship.
It was the second year running that the UFS staged the finals, with two teams competing in different categories of the final face-offs. The netball team did not claim victory in the final this year, however.
The Kovsie men’s football team made history by winning their maiden trophy on their first attempt − thus making amends after previously merely reaching the semifinals of the tournament.
This team defied the odds as they were inspired by newly appointed head coach Mokete Tsotetsi and his technical team comprising Teboho Moeti (assistant coach) and Donald Nkopane (goalkeeper coach).
The UFS side brought joy just two days after spirits were dampened when the UFS netball team lost the crown to the North-West University’s (NWU) Eagles, losing 49 − 57 in the final played at the Callie Human Centre on 29 September.
Jerry Laka, sports director at the UFS, has applauded the men’s team for achieving what had seemed impossible. He alluded to three UFS teams having been listed in the history books of the South African premier university championship.
“It is wonderful to have the men’s football team as champion,” said Laka.
Last year, the Kovsie netball team and the Shimlas claimed the prestigious Varsity Netball and Varsity Rugby championship titles.
The netball team achieved the milestone of winning five titles and reaching their sixth final under the guidance of respected South African and internationally renowned coach, Burta de Kock. She inspired her players to accomplish the feat of winning five titles in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021 and 2024.
The Kovsies netball team is the most successful of all the participating university teams.
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