Kovsies determined to make Burta de Kock’s swansong one to remember

Varsity Netball 2026 is about far more than mere competition for five-time champions UFS Kovsies.

This campaign is personal.

As the most successful team in Varsity Netball history, the Kovsies are determined to make coach Burta de Kock’s final season in charge one to remember as they prepare to bid farewell to a true legend of the game.

De Kock will retire at the end of the year following a remarkable coaching career, making the 2026 season her swansong. She was at the helm when Kovsies won the first Varsity Netball competition in 2013 and has since set a benchmark for excellence.

Her trophy cabinet tells only part of the story. Perhaps the most impressive measure of her influence is that she has helped develop numerous Proteas through the Kovsie programme.

De Kock’s greatest legacy may however be found in something that cannot be measured in trophies or statistics – the respect, admiration and affection she has earned from generations of players.

Former Proteas and Kovsies great Karla Pretorius, who is now part of De Kock’s coaching staff, believes her impact stretches well beyond the confines of UFS netball.

“We know that Tannie Burta’s impact stretches far beyond the success of netball at the University of the Free State.

“She has had a massive influence, and you can see it across the university, the Free State, as well as netball in South Africa.

“Under her guidance, she has won five titles, which makes Kovsies the most successful team in Varsity Netball history. She has also delivered 20 Proteas players through the Kovsie programme. It just shows you what impact she has had and how massive her influence is.

“She really works hard to create a pathway where young players can develop and prepare themselves to play at the highest level. That is the legacy that will forever stand because of Tannie Burta’s influence and impact.”

For Refiloe Nketsa, who is also part of De Kock’s coaching staff and was the last Kovsies player to captain the team to a Varsity Netball title, the relationship runs even deeper. De Kock is not simply a coach. She has become family.

“She’s more than a mentor and a coach. She’s become my parent. To be once again in the team that helps her with her last campaign is an honour and my act of gratitude towards her.

“To hear her comments about the game together with the players and understand her methods as part of the management has shifted and enlightened my own understanding of the game as well.

“She just doesn’t focus only on the player, but the person holistically.”

It is this human touch that has been a defining feature of De Kock’s long and successful tenure, and it is one of the reasons her influence will continue to be felt long after she leaves the Kovsies bench.