SHARPEVILLE.- Ntswaki ‘Manana’ Thinane was one of the women awarded for their outstanding contribution to sports.

Thinane’s Vaal Italian Academy from Sharpeville received an award as the team of the year during the Annual Gauteng Women in Sports Awards held in Meyerton on the evening of February 22.

This annual event has been hosted by Futballing Girls for the past five years to acknowledge women who played a significant role in the development of sports in Gauteng. This is Moonira Ramathula’s initiative to acknowledge women from the poorest of poor communities. Some notable names in South African football who attended these awards were Ria Ledwaba and Fran-Hilton Smith.

The two don’t need an introduction to South African football.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Thinane said receiving this award was the best thing to happen to her since her involvement in the development of football in this region. This is not the first time Thinane has been acknowledged for her outstanding work. She received Coach of the Year Award from Gauteng Women in Sports in 2023. She told Sedibeng Ster Sport this served as motivation for her to work hard and make a difference in the lives of young people in Sedibeng.

“I’m humbled and speechless. I want to thank the Gauteng Women in Sports organisers for acknowledging ordinary women like me in sports.
I was overwhelmed by the occasion especially receiving the award from Meme Ria Ledwaba whom I regard as my role model. She is one of the women I look up to as my role model in football,” she told Sedibeng Ster Sport.

Apart from her involvement with her football club, Thinane is also part of the Jomo Cosmos’ development team.