Metro honours top sportspeople
A glitzy awards ceremony was hosted by the Ekurhuleni Metro at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, on Friday night, to pay homage to the sportsmen and women who have helped to put the city on the map through their excellent achievements on the sporting front.
A period was held whereby the metro’s residents and federations could submit their nominees.
Due to the overwhelming support from the public a difficult situation was created for the adjudication panel to select three finalists per category and ultimately the winners.
Benoni was well represented at the awards with some local federations, schools and individuals nominated in various categories.
Benoni’s Christina Caldeira was the winner in the Outstanding Sport official/administrator of the Year category.
She represented South Africa as the coach and manager of the National Junior Badminton Team, who participated at the World Junior Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, during November 2013.
She was also appointed as a national junior selector and elected as the national secretary-general of the South Africa Badminton Coaching Association.
Caldeira is the national coordinator for the World Badminton Federation Shuttle Time Development Programme in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Benoni-based Eastern Gauteng Badminton Association scooped the award for Sport Federation of the Year.
Laerskool Rynfield held off stiff competition from fellow Benoni school Farrarmere Primary School, to pick up the Primary Sport School of the Year award.
Learners excelled in various sporting codes during the nomination period.
Five athletes from the school participated in the South African Athletics Championships and players attended the National Junior Chess championships.
Three cricket players were selected for the provincial team while two athletes participated at the National Cross-Country Championships.
Various netball and ring ball teams won their leagues, and a total of 12 ring ball players were awarded their national colours.
The rugby players kept the school flag flying high by winning the provincial league in three age groups and having three players selected for the Valke u-13 team.
