BY REGINALD KANYANE
EDUCATION and sport development MEC, Wendy Matsemela applauded all winners during North West Sports Award event held at Rustenburg Civic Centre on Friday night.
Matsemela said the province will continue to honour its stars and she encouraged young people to participate in all sporting codes across the province.
Matsemela said sport is not just for entertainment. She said it was another form of employment to many people in South Africa.
“These men and women represent hard work and commitment to success and excellence. We are here to unveil role models who must be followed and emulated by our youth. These young men and women we are celebrating this evening are a beacon of hope to the majority of young South Africans. The commitment of these sport stars to achieve excellence, have managed to convince the majority of our youth to understand that sport improves the lives of communities.
“We have proudly produced the likes of Andrew Kelehe, former Bafana Bafana player, Philemon Masinga and currently we have Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune as South Africa’s number one goalkeeper. This year marks the 2th edition of the North West Sports Awards,” she said.
Matsemela said the purpose of the awards was to celebrate excellence. She further added that sport promotes unity within the society.
“We will continue to celebrate excellence in sports and continue to encourage the current generation to participate in sports. This is a significant milestone, and we are celebrating the best sporting moments with the sport fraternity. Working together with all our top achievers, we can put our province on the map.
“We must be flexible as the province. We need to continue to develop sports at an early age especially in our schools. We also acknowledge the good work that the netball team is doing in Brutal Fruit Netball League currently. They are comfortably sitting at position one,” she said.
Biggest winners on the night were Comrades Marathon champion Gift Kelehe, and Kefiloe Tsotetsi who emerged as sportsman and sportswoman of the year respectively.
Matsemela also further sent her regards to disabled winners. Among those who were recognised was Aviwe Ngoni.
Ngoni won the Best Sportswoman of the Year with Disability and the Best Community Sports Development Award.
Magesh Sekailwe scooped the Best Sportsman of the Year Award with Disability. Sekailwe said this shall teach the general public that one can use sport for a living. He said that idea of disabled persons have much in common with high level of professional athletes might be laughable, but it is true.
“We should not discriminate against disabled persons. We had people like former runner, Oscar Pistorius who proved beyond reasonable doubt that disability is not a setback. Those involved with the scene understand the unique talent, skill and determination of the players mirrors that of real athletes, even if their physical fitness is different,” he said.
Mmabatho FM presenter, Sello Mokonopi scooped the Best Sports Presenter of the Year Award.
Award-winning sport editor for Sunday Sun and Daily Sun, Mathews Mpete won the Best Sport Journalist of the Year Award in print.
Rustenburg-born journalist said: “The awards bring hope in the province and the awards will change the landscape of sport in the country. This will encourage those who want to embark on the same industry to work hard. So to those who were nominated, we are all winners.”
Motsweding FM sport commentator, Brian Letsogo won the Best Sport Journalist of the Year in electronic. Letsogo shared the same sentiments and said the awards will encourage those do not believe in themselves as well.
“Sport is brings people together, and I am grateful for the recognition. We all know North West province is predominately rural, so this will bring encouragement so previous disadvantaged children. They will have that beacon of hope because one’s background does not determine his/her future.
“There are some people who are still living in abject poverty. However we can change their situation through sport. In the absence of sport, a fight against drug, alcohol abuse, crime, poverty and teenage pregnancy will be lost,” Letsogo said.
-TDN
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