Kovsie sports Director calls for extra time

Henry Mtshali & Attie Alberts

“Kovsies is going to become a force in soccer again.” This promise was made by die Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof. Jonathan Jansen at Kovsies’ recent Open Day. With the strong focus on soccer this year, Irawa has spoken to several role-players to determine the state of Kovsie soccer.

According to Kovsie Sport, there is a hostel league in place, while the UFS first team plays in two provincial leagues. However, several own goals were scored. Kovsie Sport has been without a sponsor for the past three years since First National Bank chose not to renew its sponsorship due to the poor performance of the teams. “There is a lack of passion and commitment from the students,” says Mr James Letuka, Director of Kovsie Sport. According to Ms Nomsa Mahlangu, sport manager responsible for soccer, “players always use classes and tests as an excuse not to train, but are eager to play during intervarsity. Even more problematic is the fact that there are students studying on sports bursaries who has to be begged to show up for team practice and matches.”
Letuka says 60% of the players representing the UFS in the SAB league are still in secondary school. “I believe that the mindset of students need to change. Students often want to receive without contributing. Here they are given the platform, but they are not utilizing it.”

Student players seem to disagree. In recent years, many a student has accused Mahlangu of incompetence. Fannie Zim, RC Sport of Villa Bravado, says although the lack of development can be attributed to funding, Mahlangu is also to blame. “She has not played her role in the development of soccer.” In a previous interview with Irawa, Mahlangu has underlined that a number of factors contributed to the current state of soccer at the UFS, and that it stretches beyond “incompetence in management”. For instance, one has to keep in mind that she’s in charge of several other sporting codes as well.

To get the ball rolling, Letuka has given the assurance that, as from next semester, they will be committed to having open meetings for all soccer players and interested parties. An open day for soccer at the beginning of the academic year is also part of the long-term plan. “Affiliation with Bloemfontein Celtic is still in the pipeline, but players must show commitment first,” he added. Sponsorship alone will evidently not change the mindset of players, but will steer the development of Kovsie Soccer closer to the goal posts. “Once we start doing things correctly it is then that we move forward in the university and in this case with soccer,” Mahlangu concluded.