The province's sports personalities and organisations from different sporting codes were given awards for their exceptional achievements during the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's Provincial Sport and Recreation Awards, held at The Ranch Hotel in Polokwane on Sunday, 4 December.
This annual event seeks to recognise, reward and celebrate sportspersons for iconic and meritorious service in sports.
The Limpopo MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Nakedi Kekana, commended the recipients for a job well done on the field of play and urged them to continue to use sports as a catalyst for change in their lives and communities. "Win or not, you are very important citizens in this province and in the sport fraternity; we believe in you and your capabilities. Continue to promote your God-given talents and nurture this excellence in sport," she said.
She said that, as a department, they had an obligation to motivate personalities committed to doing good things in their communities to benefit other people. Kekana encouraged those who did not receive awards to not give up but to work harder to reach their future goals.
The winners in the respective categories were as follows:
Coach of the Year - Nakedi Raphako
Sports Administrator of the Year - Renuka Rampoo
Newcomer of the Year - Safiya Kahan Patel
Team of the Year - Limpopo men's softball team, Dinare
Volunteer of the Year - Sello Maduma
Sportsman of the Year with Disability - Donald Ramphedi
Sportswoman of the Year with Disability - Sheryl James
Photographer of the Year - Herbert Rachuene
Journalist of the Year - Nathi Kubyane.
The five Limpopo-born Banyana-Banyana players were also honoured for winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco. The players are Lebogang Ramalepe, Noko Matlou, Nomvula Kgoale, Hildah Magaia and Amogelang Motau. They won R100 000 each and a trophy.