Two AmaTuks players received their degrees during the University’s Spring Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, 2 September 2015.  

Ronald Ketjijere is the Vice-Captain of AmaTuks, and Captain of the Namibian National Football team that won the 2015 COSAFA Cup hosted by South Africa. Ronald has not only played for AmaTuks in the Premier Soccer League, he also represented the University as a member of the 2013 Varsity Football team.

He was born on 12 December 1987 in Okakarara, Namibia, where he attended primary and secondary school. He enrolled at the University of Namibia to study law while pursuing a professional career in football (soccer). As a university student in Namibia, he was a member of the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia (TISAN) at the 2012 CUCSA Games hosted in Windhoek, and competed in the 2011 World Student Games in China. Ketjijere also played for African Stars Namibia before joining AmaTuks at the beginning of the 2012/2013 season, the team’s first season in the Premier Soccer League. He immediately enrolled at the University of Pretoria to further his studies towards an LLB degree. In the 2014/2015 season he featured in 28 of the 30 league matches, starting in 25 matches and coming on as a substitute in three. Although he was playing football professionally, Ketjijere ensured that he met all the requirements of his studies.

Tristyn Coetsee was born on 13 December 1987 and attended Pretoria Boys High. He comes from a football family: his father is a well-known coach educator, and his elder brother is a retired footballer who once played for the University of Pretoria in what was then the Vodacom League. In 2006 Coetsee registered to study at UP. He joined AmaTuks during the 2007 January transfer window. He is one of the longest-serving players in the team.

While playing for AmaTuks, Tristyn decided to enrol for a Bachelor of Law. He has become a role model by studying and completing an LLB degree while playing professional football. While studying at UP, Coetsee was the goalkeeper for the team that won the Inaugural Varsity Football Championship in 2013. During the tournament he only conceded one goal in the final match. 

What distinguishes Coetsee from many footballers is his work ethic. His dedication and hard work on the football field were carried over to his studies and he has now graduated with an LLB degree. 

AmaTuks, TuksSport and the University of Pretoria are proud to be associated with  Ketjijere and Coetsee as they have shown discipline, focus, commitment and dedication – firstly towards their studies and secondly towards playing professional football for AmaTuks. 

Two of TuksFootball’s senior women’s team players also graduated on 2 September 2015. They are Mapotlakele Maserumule, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), and Banyana-Banyana left back, Gloria Thato who obtained a Bachelor Sports Science.

Ms Mapotlakele Maserumule	Ms Gloria Thato

TuksSport is proud to have been part of these young women’s lives from the day they enrolled at UP and during the years they were members of TuksFootball senior teams. They set a high standard for younger women to emulate.