By Obakeng Maje

The Banyana Banyana team, as well as head coach Joseph Mkhonza and striker Portia Modise are among the nominations who stand a chance of lifting the honours at the SA Sports

Awards.

These will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre on Sunday, 4 November 2012.

At the nomination function held at Gold Reef City on Thursday, 4 October 2012, the Banyana

Banyana team was nominated in the Sports Team of the Year category, along with the Olympic men’s lightweight rowing team, the Olympic swimming team, the Proteas cricket team and Orlando Pirates Football Club.

Mkhonza, who guided the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana to their first-ever Olympic campaign at the Games held in London, England in July this year, is nominated in the Coach of the Year category. Other nominees in this category are Gary Kirsten (cricket), Graham Hill (swimming), Gordon Igesund (Moroka Swallows Football Club) and Allister Coetzee (Stormers Rugby).

In the Sportswoman of the Year category, Modise, who has scored 72 goals in her 95 appearances for Banyana Banyana – including the first Banyan Banyana goal at the Olympics –  will contest the honours with Marsha Marescia (women’s hockey), Caster Semenya (Athletics) and Bridgette Hartley (Canoeing).

In wishing the Banyana Banyana team and nominated individuals the best of luck for the final leg of the competition, Safa CEO Dr Robin Petersen said:

“This sort of recognition is the perfect form of additional motivation for the team as they prepare for the final leg of their 2012 campaign at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea from October 28 to November 11. Special thanks must go to the national team’s sponsor Sasol for the committed support shown to Banyana Banyana over the past four years.”

Sasol Sponsorship Specialist, Dumisani Mbokane added: “Sasol is committed towards empowering women through sport and the recognition given to Banyana Banyana via the SA Sports Awards is a sign of the progress made by Banyana Banyana in recent times.

To make the final is a feat in its own right, and we wish them the best of luck for when the winners are announced on November.

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