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About Kovas

Founded in 1951

Following World War II, a large number of the Lithuanian diaspora migrated to Australia and settled in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and other cities. Amongst them were a large number of sports people who wanted to maintain their cultural heritage by continuing to play football (soccer) and basketball against other Australian Lithuanians. These groups of recent migrants began competing against each other and formed local Australian Lithuanian sports clubs. In 1951, the Sydnėjaus Lietuvių Sporto Klubas KOVAS (SLSK Kovas) was born. Kovas has been one of the stalwart clubs of the Australian Lithuanian sporting community ever since. On 5 December 2014, KOVAS became an Incorporated organisation in NSW as the Sydney Lithuanian Sports Club Kovas Inc. NSW Incorporation number: INC1401750

Proud History

From the beginning, KOVAS has had a long, proud history in supporting Australian Lithuanian sports people. KOVAS has had a great tradition in basketball, with many of its players going on to play local representative teams, for New South Wales, Australia and at the semi-professional and professional levels. But its not just Basketball, KOVAS has fielded teams in Soccer and Volleyball, had a large Golf Team and numerous other representatives in Tennis, Swimming, Table Tennis and even Chess!

Its all about Juniors

One of KOVAS' primary goals throughout its history has been to encourage kids to participate in junior sport whilst retaining a strong link to their Lithuanian culutral heritage. KOVAS has and will always provide financial and organisational support to juniors to play sport. We provide free coaching, training sessions, uniforms and equipment to allow kids to get involved. This is a long tradition in our Club and one we are extremely proud of. In the 21st Century it has never been more challenging, however KOVAS is proud to have had 14 junior basketballers represent the club at our most recent Sporto Šventė at Terrigal in 2019.

Life Members

With such a long and rich history, SLSK KOVAS would like to recognise the following Life Members for their outstanding contributions to found, manage and support the club. Kovas would not survive without the contributions of these members.
Name
Name
Kun. P Butkus (dec.)Vladas Daudaras (dec.)Antanas Laukaitis (dec.)Vincas Binkis (dec.)Petras Petronis (dec.)Pranas Mikalauskas (dec.)Mykolas Zakaras (dec.)Algis Plukas (dec.)Juozas Dambrauskas (dec.)Stasys Juraitis (“Tevas”) (dec.)Bruno Paskocimas (dec.)Vladas Schneideris (dec.)Zinaida Motiejuniene (dec.)Trudy Dambrauskas (dec.)Valentinas Gulbinas (dec.)Stasys Stirbinskas (dec.)Edvardas Lasaitis (dec.)Vytas Burokas (dec.)Agonita Wallis (dec.)Dimitrius Krausevicius (“Jumbo”) (dec.)
Rita Kasperaitis Viktor Sliteris Snr (dec.)Stephanie GustafsonMaria AtkinsonGediminas Sauka (“Official”)Arvydas ZdoubaPhillip GustafsonDon Atkinson (dec.)Peter AndriejunasJames PocockRita AndriejunasJeronimas BelkusGrazina NewmanPeter Burokas Michael SepokasTom JablonskisJacinta Ankus Jurgis Liutakas (“Cousin George”)Louise SliogerisPeter Gustafson

Photo Gallery of Kovas through the Ages

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