A world champion’s javelin throw. An African record over the hurdles. A team moving in championship-winning unison. At the inaugural North-West University (NWU) Sports Awards, the achievements took many forms, but each gave the university reason to stand a little taller.

Held at Feather Hill on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, the ceremony brought together sporting talent from the Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses to celebrate a year in which NWU athletes competed against some of the world’s best and earned their place among them.

Franco le Roux received the Senior Sportsman of the Year award, while hockey player Ané Janse van Vuuren and badminton player Amy Ackerman shared the Senior Sportswomen of the Year honours. Their achievements headlined an evening that also recognised emerging talent, championship teams and the people who help athletes fulfil their potential.

For Le Roux, the award followed a season of record-breaking performances. He finished seventh in the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, setting South African and African records, and placed fourth in the 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games. He also established a national U23 record in the outdoor event.

Janse van Vuuren’s year combined leadership with competition at the highest level. She captained South Africa at the FIH Junior World Cup in Chile and represented the country at the FIH Senior World Cup in the Netherlands, alongside international series against Canada, Namibia and Scotland.

Ackerman’s achievements stretched from continental gold to the world stage. She won gold at the African Badminton Championships in Botswana and helped the South African women’s team secure team gold. Her international campaign also included the BWF World Championships in India and the Thomas & Uber Cup in Denmark.

The junior awards offered an equally compelling glimpse of what lies ahead.

Jan-Hendrik Heymans was named Junior Sportsman of the Year after winning javelin gold at the World Athletics U20 Championships in the USA, where his 80.50m throw was an U20 world-leading performance. Fellow javelin athlete Mariné Grobler received the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award after finishing sixth in the women’s final at the same championships.

Their success gave particular resonance to the recognition of Terseus Liebenberg. With more than four decades of elite javelin coaching behind him, Liebenberg most recently helped guide Heymans to world gold. On an evening celebrating the next generation, his contribution showed how much experience and patient instruction can lie behind a young athlete’s breakthrough.

Collective excellence had its moment, too. NWU Aerobics claimed Team of the Year after winning both the University Sport South Africa (USSA) title and the SASAF national championship. Dance, football, squash and cross-country athletics also earned recognition for achievements that included national student titles and promotion to the PSL National First Division.

Liezel Gouws received the Para Award after a season that included seventh place in the long jump at the Commonwealth Games and new South African and African T37 long jump records at the Winelands International.

Keynote speaker Victor Matfield, a former Springbok captain and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner, brought the perspective of someone who knows what sustained success demands. He encouraged the student-athletes to dream, practise discipline and work harder than the person next to them. For athletes already testing themselves internationally, his message was a challenge to keep going.

The ceremony also made room for contributions measured over years. Heléne Botha was honoured for 24 years of leadership and service, particularly in advancing netball at the NWU. Bodybuilding coach Raphael Ntumba received a posthumous award, accepted by his son, Alphonso, acknowledging a contribution that continues through the athletes he helped develop.

Coaches, team managers, analysts and communications professionals shared in the recognition. Their inclusion gave the evening its fuller meaning: every result on the scoreboard carries the work of people whose names may never appear on it.

For the NWU’s sporting community, these awards marked both achievement and possibility. Young athletes could see where their talent might take them; experienced competitors could take pride in how far they had come. Across three campuses, there was much to celebrate — and every reason to return to training with renewed purpose.

Award winners and recipients

Major annual awards

• Team of the Year: NWU Aerobics.

• Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Mariné Grobler (athletics).

• Junior Sportsman of the Year: Jan-Hendrik Heymans (athletics).

• Senior Sportswomen of the Year — joint winners: Ané Janse van Vuuren (hockey) and Amy Ackerman (badminton).

• Senior Sportsman of the Year: Franco le Roux (athletics).

Merit awards

• CUCSA Games — athletics: Marnus Jonker.

• CUCSA Games — basketball: Nthabeleng Mokele and Koketso Mafate.

• CUCSA Games — football: Amogelang Matsoai, Kagiso Ratshefola, Reatlegile Kgosithebe, Aphelele Sibisi, Lucas Seromo, Lucky Letwaba, Thapelo Letsholonyane, Thiko Maganda and Xolani Masethi.

• CUCSA Games — table tennis: Thamia Kganedi.

• CAA African Athletics Championships: Righardt Stander, Mihlali Xotyeni and Valco van Wyk.

• Cricket: Corné Prinsloo, Ludwich Schuld and Lleyton Troskie.

• Hockey: Nuriyah Bell and Tara Myburgh.

• Squash: Jordan Phillips and Reuel Videler.

Excellence awards

• Athletics: Christopher Swart, Daniel Briel, Bradley Maponyane, Viwe Jingqi, Rogail Joseph, Bertus van der Linde, Andrea Steynberg, Werner Gouws, Mariné Grobler, Jan-Hendrik Heymans, Ethan Olivier, Bradley Nkoana and Franco le Roux.

• Badminton: Amy Ackerman.

• Bodybuilding: Francis Motsileng and Thapelo Leputu.Hockey: Thabelani Metu, Germarie Spershott, Mia Karsten, Marike Neethling, Nomsa Mzizi, Ané Janse van Vuuren and Jaydon Brooker.

Para Award

• Liezel Gouws: Athletics.

Coaches’ awards

• Goodwill Sefume: Aerobics.

• Shaun Bownes: Athletics — hurdles.

• Thuso Moiloa: Basketball.

• Brady Barends: Cricket

• Nkululeko Malgas: Football.

• Elsunet du Plessis: U19 Proteas coaching.

Special awards

• Terseus Liebenberg: More than 40 years of elite javelin coaching.

• Jean Verster: Athletics South Africa team leader at the Commonwealth Games.

• Tracey Olivier: Athletics South Africa team manager at the World Athletics Indoor Championships and Commonwealth Games.

• Raphael Ntumba — posthumous: Bodybuilding coaching; award accepted by his son, Alphonso Ntumba.

• Nelson Komane (Nel): South African women’s hockey video analyst and assistant coach.

• Shaun Hulley: Canadian women’s hockey assistant coach.

• Colin Powell: U21 and senior Proteas netball strength and conditioning coach.

Marketing and Communications Award

• Piet Kgomotso Ribane: National and international sports photography, videography and media coverage.

Special Recognition Award

• Helene Botha: Twenty-four years of leadership, service and commitment to the NWU and the advancement of netball.

NWU leadership special discretionary awards

• Varsity Cup Rugby Team.

• Varsity Netball Team.

• NWU Football Club.

Team category champions recognised

• Aerobics: 2026 SASAF national and USSA champions; also named Team of the Year.

• Dance: 2026 USSA Dance champions.

• Football: Promotion to the PSL National First Division.

• Squash: 2026 USSA champions.

• Athletics: 2026 USSA Cross Country champions.

Springbok legend, Victor Matfield, was the keynote speaker at the 2026 NWU Sports Awards.
 

Franco le Roux was named the Senior Sportsman of the Year.
 

Amy Ackerman and Ané Janse van Vuuren shared the Senior Sportwomen of the Year trophy.

Jan-Hendrik Heymans was named as the Junior Sportsman of the Year.
 

Mariné Grobler was named the Junior Sportswoman of the Year.