BLOEMFONTEIN – The University of the Free State unveiled celebrated South African netball star Karla Pretorius as the new head coach for netball at Kovsies.

The announcement came at a media conference in Bloemfontein today. The versatile goal defence and wing defence player takes over the coaching baton from internationally respected coach Burta de Kock. The longest-serving mentor is retiring after loyal service and illustrious tenure spanning 24 years at the helm of Kovsie netball.

A product of the UFS, Pretorius was tailored to step into the shoes of her mentor, having served as understudy and assistant coach, as well as captaining UFS netball and the Free State Crinums – achieving milestone and winning multiple titles.

After more than a decade of elite competition, Pretorius recently announced her retirement from professional netball to focus on coaching and her career as a qualified dietitian. She announced after her return from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where she helped the Proteas finish fifth overall out of the 12 nations.

Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport, said the university was pleased with Pretorius enlistment, saying: “This marks the beginning of a carefully planned leadership transition, ensuring continuity within one of South Africa’s leading university netball programmes while honouring the outstanding legacy of coach De Kock. This appointment is a key part of our vision to re-establish UFS as a dominant force in university netball. As the new coach Pretorius brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership, and a clear understanding of the student-athlete pathway,” said Laka.

Pretorius has expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to lead the programme, as her career comes full circle and she rises to the helm of Kovsies netball.

“The UFS is where I earned my degree, had my first real taste of high-performance netball, gained invaluable experience, and grew tremendously as a person. Years later, it also became a place that allowed me to continue learning, developing and finding my feet in my coaching career,” said the talented star player.

Pretorius described her appointment as a milestone taking over the coaching baton from her mentor. “To now have the opportunity to take over from Tannie Burta and continue the Kovsie legacy she has built is both a huge responsibility and an exciting challenge. I’m looking forward to helping shape the next generation of players and contributing to the continued growth and success of KovsieNetball.”

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