BLOEMFONTEIN: The University of the Free State’s (UFS) women’s netball and men’s football teams have made history in the Varsity tournament. Both sides secured berths in the finals of South Africa’s premier Varsity Netball and Varsity Football competition.
Last year, the Kovsies achieved a similar feat. The women’s netball and the men’s rugby team, the Shimlas, went on to claim the prestigious Varsity Rugby and Varsity Netball championships. The Shimlas won the 2024 Varsity Cup championship after beating the University of Cape Town (UCT) Ikeys 45 − 42 in an epic final. It was the local lads’ second title. The final also took place at home in Bloemfontein.
The UFS’ netball team fell short of adding to its title-winning history on Monday, 29 September, after losing 49 − 57 to the North-West University (NWU) Eagles. The Kovsies were the defending champions and were looking for their sixth crown. They won the title last year after beating the determined University of Johannesburg (UJ) in a 58 − 55 bout.
The team achieved the historic 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 remarkable feat of winning five titles: in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021, and 2024. Her team is the most successful of all the participating university teams.
All eyes are now on the Kovsies men’s football team who will face the four-time winners, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), in the final taking place tomorrow – Thursday, 2 October, at the Shimla Park Stadium. The UFS boys progressed to the final for the first time. They achieved this feat under their newly appointed head coach, Mokete Tsotetsi, who aspires to lead the team to win their maiden Varsity Football title. He officially began his tenure on 5 August with his technical team comprising Teboho “Double” Moeti as assistant coach and Donald Nkopane as goalkeeper coach.
The Kovsies advanced to the final after holding their nerve in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, edging out the NWU in a 4 − 3 win. TUT will be looking for a fifth title, having claimed victory in 2023, 2022, 2018 and 2016.
Jerry Laka, sports director at the UFS, has applauded both teams for reaching the finals of the tournament.
“It is wonderful to have two teams in the final again − men’s football and women’s netball teams. It is a great experience for the university students and the community of Bloemfontein.”
“For the men’s football team, this is very special considering the team has never reached a final, despite their success in reaching the semifinals in recent years,” said Laka.
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