After years of representing South Africa at the highest level, Pretorius is set to take on a new challenge away from the court as she prepares to become the next Head Coach of KovsieNetball.
KovsieSport has confirmed that Pretorius, who currently serves as the programme’s Specialist Coach, will officially take over at the conclusion of the 2026 season. She will succeed renowned Head Coach Burta de Kock, who is set to retire at the end of the season following a distinguished coaching career.
The appointment represents more than a change in leadership. For Pretorius, it is a return to a place that played a significant role in shaping her own journey as an athlete, while opening the door to a new role in developing the next generation of netball talent.
A proud University of the Free State alumna, Pretorius experienced the Kovsie environment first as a student and high-performance player before returning to the programme as a coach.
Reflecting on what the university means to her, Pretorius said her journey at UFS helped shape both her sporting and personal development.
“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,” she said.
Now, having recently closed one chapter of her playing career, Pretorius is preparing to embrace an entirely new challenge.
Taking over from De Kock, who has built an impressive legacy at KovsieNetball, will come with its own expectations, but Pretorius sees the opportunity as both a privilege and a responsibility.
“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,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to helping shape the next generation of players and contributing to the continued growth and success of KovsieNetball.”
The appointment also aligns with KovsieSport’s long-term vision for the programme. Director Jerry Laka said Pretorius brings valuable experience, leadership and an understanding of the journey student-athletes take from university sport towards high-performance competition.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Head Coach for KovsieNetball. This appointment is a key part of our vision to strengthen UFS’s position as a dominant force in university netball,” said Laka.
“The coach brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership, and a clear understanding of the student-athlete pathway. We are confident that under her guidance, our netball programme will continue to excel both on and off the court.”
Before stepping into her new role, Pretorius will continue her work with KovsieNetball as Specialist Coach, while De Kock remains at the helm for the remainder of the 2026 season.
For De Kock, the final season marks the closing of an influential coaching era. For Pretorius, it signals the beginning of another.
Having experienced the demands of elite netball as a player and now building her identity as a coach, Pretorius will have the opportunity to pass on the knowledge, discipline and experience gained throughout her career.
The next phase of her journey will therefore be about more than results. It will be about building people, developing talent and helping young players find their own path in the sport.
As KovsieNetball prepares to turn the page, the programme enters an exciting new era — one led by a familiar face who understands what it means to wear the Kovsie colours and what it takes to reach the highest level of the game.