Premier, MEC to honour sport stars

Premier Stan Mathabatha and Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Nandi Ndalane are expected to award the province’s best athletes during the Limpopo Sports and Recreation Awards set to take place at the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Saturday.
Kola Maila, Spokesperson of the department said the awards are aimed at honouring sportsmen and women who have excelled on and off the field in various categories for their performance. “The awards give Government an opportunity to pay tribute to those who excelled in various sporting codes in the national and international arena.”
Awards will be made in 17 categories including Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year with Disability, Sport Administrator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Developing Team of the Year, Recreation Body of the Year and Indigenous Games Team of the Year. Among the nominees are big names such as 2016 Olympic gold medallist in the 800 m for women Caster Semenya and Evans Maripa, South Africa’s number one male wheelchair tennis player. Rufus Photo, Comrades Marathon gold medallist and Benny’s Care Sports Academy, 2016 national champion in the Danone Nations Cup are also on the list.The categories are standardised across all provinces in preparation of the forthcoming National Sports Awards.

The nominees for the 2016 Limpopo Sports and Recreation Awards are:

Sport Administrator of the Year: Mashilo Matsetela (Limpopo Softball Association), Maumbethe Ralethe (Limpopo Softball Association) and Sannie Chuma (Limpopo Boxing Organisation)

Sportsman of the Year with Disability: Lebogang Mogale (intellectually impaired), Evans Maripa (wheelchair tennis) and Alex Taylor (intellectually impaired)

Sportsman of the Year: Rufus Photo (athletics), Ude Fuchs (swimming) and Kwena Nkune (softball)

Sportswoman of the Year with a disability: Jennifer Masekwameng (intellectually impaired)

Sportswoman of the Year: Leandre du Preez (gymnastics), Karla Grobler (modern pentathlon) and Caster Semenya (athletics)

Team of the Year: Limpopo Softball Senior Men, Limpopo Volleyball Junior Girls and Limpopo Province Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired

Coach of the Year: Mihloti Elizabeth Shiwambana (intellectually impaired athletics), Thabo Senong (soccer) and Douggie Eagar (swimming)

School Team of the Year: Sekgedlwa Primary School (softball), Benny’s Care Academy (soccer) and Nape Primary School (khokho)

Developing School Team of the Year: “Mamarama High School (rugby), Sunrise Primary School (hockey) and Mninginisi Secondary School (drie stokkies)

Provincial Federation of the Year: Limpopo Gymnastics Association, Limpopo Softball Association and Limpopo Blue Bulls Rugby Union

Recreation Body of the Year: diketo structure, driestokkies structure and morabaraba structure

Indigenous Games of the Year: diketo, driestokkies and ncuva

Newcomer of the Year: Chris Moleya (athletics), Amanda Kruger (modern pentathlon) and Ronewa Mudzanani (wheelchair tennis)

Volunteer of the Year: Eric Rasimati Baloyi (Limpopo Boxing Association), Maite Phasha (Limpopo Gymnastics) and Benny Boshomane (Limpopo Softball Association)

Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za

Featured photo: Premier Stan Mathabatha.