Recognition for sports personalities

Sports personalities from across the province who excelled on and off the field throughout 2023 received awards from the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture during a prestigious annual awards ceremony that was held at The Ranch Hotel outside Polokwane on Saturday, 2 November.

Addressing the guests, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Nakedi Kekana said the awards ceremony was held each year to honour the sportsmen and -women who continued to raise Limpopo’s flag high in the various sporting codes in the national and international arena. “We have made it our business in sport to celebrate people while they are still alive; to create a hall of fame for sport; to celebrate the talents of those who achieve and excel,” she said.

Former disabled athlete and multi-prize-winning Special Olympian Rofhiwa Manwadu, who is also an ambassador for the Special Olympics in Vhembe, received the MEC Excellence Award. “Manwadu has shown that people with disabilities are also capable of setting dreams and realising them; they are individuals with capabilities and abilities just like any other person,” said Kekana.

“I want to tell those who still look down on people with disabilities to have a positive outlook towards life and to never underestimate us. We are the pillars of this society,” Manwadu said.

The Sport Journalist of the Year award went to Ofhani Munyai from the FARPost sports magazine, while Frank Mavhungu from Limpopo Mirror won the Photographer of the Year award.

Date:08 December 2023

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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