Moganedi and Mphahlele crowned UJ Sportswoman and man
Team of the Year award was added as a new category and the senior women’s football team was named the 2022 Team of the Year for winning the 2022 FNB Varsity Football women’s tournament, the Engen Knockout Challenge and the Engen Champ of Champs.
The University of Johannesburg recently rolled out the red carpet.
Dazzling student-athletes and their families celebrated their local and international achievements at the university’s annual Sports Gala Awards on November 17.
Middle distance runner Mofori Ryan Mphahlele and wheelchair basketball player Michelle Moganedi took home the night’s biggest awards of UJ Sportsman and woman respectively of the year for 2022.
Mphahlele won a gold medal in the 1 500m at the 2022 University Sport South Africa championships in Cape Town and a silver medal for South Africa in the 1 500m at the CAA Senior African Athletics Championships in Mauritius.
“I feel very proud, not just for myself but for my coach and the UJ staff and the managers, family, friends and the squad. I’m not just motivated, I feel very inspired, and what’s next for me? I want the world and everything in it,” Mofori said.
Moganedi was selected to represent South Africa in the IWBF Afro World Championships held in Ethiopia. She was also selected as part of the IWBF Players Commission to speak about players from Africa and the development of the sport, in Switzerland. Moganedi captained the South Africa 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball team in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where the team finished fifth.
“I am excited, although I have done well in my sport, this win came as a surprise. I did not anticipate winning the award so soon. It is an amazing feeling. I’m more fired up to do even [better],” said Moganedi.
Gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz scooped two awards, the Age group Sportswoman of the Year and the Student-Athlete of the Year.
“I feel good and a little overwhelmed in a good way. Part of me did not expect it but after receiving it I looked back at the year that I’ve had and I feel deserving and proud of all the success I had this year,” she said.
“Today was really the cherry on the top of a great year for me… I have bigger goals for my career, to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.”
Among the speakers at the awards was former Olympian and chairperson of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee Khotso Mokwena. He shared his winning methods, experience and also his journey to winning the only medal for South Africa in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
He also encouraged the student-athletes to believe in themselves and never stop.
Age group sportswoman of the year:
- 1st place: Caitlin Rooskrantz (gymnastics)
- 2nd place: Tarle Mathe (netball)
- 3rd place: Sphumelele Shamase (football).
Age group sportsman of the year:
- 1st place: Lythe Pillay (athletics)
- 2nd place: Ronan Herman (cricket)
- 3rd place: Thulani Zandamela (football).
Club sportsperson of the year:
- 1st place: Cheswill Johnson (athletics)
- 2nd place: Liam Alder (cricket)
- 3rd place: Mpho Links (athletics).
Team of the year:
- Women’s football team
Student-Athlete of the Year:
- 1st place: Caitlin Rooskrantz
- 2nd place: Kristen Paton
- 3rd place: Masingita Simango.
Sportswoman of the year:
- 1st place: Michelle Moganedi (UJ SSD)
- 2nd place: Yane van der Merwe (UJ SSD)
- 3rd place: Nomfundo Mngomezulu (netball).
Sportsman of the year:
- 1st place: Ryan Mphahlele (athletics)
- 2nd place: Werner Visser (athletics)
- 3rd place: Andrew Peter Simunye (rugby).
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