Polokwane MMA coach named Limpopo Coach of the Year | Review

POLOKWANE – Jan Roets, a distinguished wrestling coach at the Ion Baciu Wrestling Gymnasium in Polokwane, was recently named as Limpopo Coach of the Year by the South African Wrestling Federation.

According to Joyce Swan, secretary-general of the club, Roets epitomises the pinnacle of coaching excellence in South Africa.

“With a deep-rooted passion for martial arts from a young age, Roets has cultivated a coaching career that consistently delivers world-class results. His unique achievements, dedication, and ethical conduct have cemented his reputation as a role model for coaches across the country,” Swan says.

Roets holds the remarkable distinction of coaching the only two South African wrestlers to ever achieve podium finishes at a World Championship tournament. These athletes, nurtured under Roets’s mentorship since their formative years, have gone on to secure international scholarships, a testament to Jan’s exceptional coaching expertise.

In 2024, Roets’ coaching prowess was further demonstrated when three of his wrestlers qualified for the Olympic Games Qualifiers in Egypt. Among them, Steyn de Lange earned one of only two coveted Olympic spots available to wrestlers from Africa and Oceania.

Roets and Steyn proudly represented South Africa at the Paris Olympics, where Steyn ranked 10th among the world’s 16 best wrestlers – an inspiring achievement for South African wrestling. Additionally, at the u/23 World Championships in Albania, Steyn wrestled in the quarterfinals stage in a field of 23 competitors.

According to Swan, Roets’s success extends to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), where two of his senior wrestlers are now reigning champions in the internationally renowned EFC Worldwide promotion, which also produced the celebrated Dricus du Plessis. Roedie Roets currently holds the featherweight belt, and Igeu Kabesa is a double champion across two weight divisions – testament to Roets’s ability to cultivate versatile and elite-level athletes.

Throughout the 2024 season, Roets coached numerous South African champions across all age categories, including schools (u/8 to u/15), u/17, u/20, and senior divisions. His impact extends beyond individual accolades; as a member of the SA Wrestling

Federation’s Coaches Council and Head Coach of the Senior National Team, Roets played a pivotal role in shaping the national coaching framework. His leadership saw him accompany South African teams to multiple international tournaments, fostering discipline, fair play and ethical conduct among his athletes.

His commitment to early childhood development is unparalleled. He has dedicated years to coaching at schools in Polokwane, including Heuwelkruin and Suidskool, focusing on the physical and mental development of young children from preschool to Gr 3. His inspirational approach is highly regarded by both children and educators, instilling a foundation of discipline, confidence and physical fitness in the youngest members of the community.

“Jan Roets consistently adheres to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. His dedication to fair play and fostering a disciplined team environment exemplifies his role as a mentor and leader. He is respected and admired not only by his athletes but also by his peers in the coaching fraternity for his unwavering commitment to excellence,” Swan testifies.

Roets’s unmatched achievements, dedication to the sport and profound impact on the development of athletes at all levels made him an outstanding candidate for the coach of the year award. His contributions to South African wrestling, both nationally and internationally, have set a benchmark for coaching excellence.

Roets is very proud of the achievements of his wrestlers and says he could not have obtained the distinction without their ongoing support.

“Being a successful sports administrator requires long years of dedication and building-up towards your goal. It is not something that you just inherit, you have to work for it and it requires lots of time and effort, however, if you have a love for the sport, it comes by itself,” he believes. He added that the team at the wrestling club develops to become family members who share one another’s successes.

“The parents and family members also become part of the family and our youngest member is only four years old, with the oldest being 28 years,” he concluded.