FORMER International Boxing Federation (IBF) women’s welterweight champion Noni Tenge and Port Elizabeth-based netballer Zanele Mdodana will be among more than 50 women to receive recognition at the maiden Ministerial Women in Sports Awards at Sandton tonight.
This was confirmed by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula who said the event was meant to recognise women excellence every year during August – Women’s Month.
The ever-excited Mbalula added that this was part of his department’s vision to transform sports in the republic.
“We’ve been called upon to respond to Women’s Month celebrations. Over and above that we cannot talk transformation and not talk about women.
We’ve been talking success but we have for a long time ignored women.
My ministry is challenging the status quo and we started this with the Netball Brutal Fruit Cup last year,” he said.
Mbalula questioned sports federations as to why there was no pro league for women.
“Why is it that 20 years into democracy we do not have professional leagues for women in rugby, soccer and cricket in the main?”
He hailed Tenge and Mdodana, and all recipients who will be recognised tonight as women who strive for excellence in their sporting codes.
“They are women of substance, we roll out red carpet for excellence.”
Meanwhile women’s soccer pioneer Gloria “Sweet 16” Hlalele will also be recognised tonight.
Hlalele made a name for herself at the age of 15 after playing with men in the Tembisa United Football League. She played in the same team as former AmaZulu star Joel Ranyawa and later Tumelo Mofokeng, who later played for Tembisa Classic.
She went on to form her own club, Gloria FC, and was one of the founding members of Banyana Banyana in 1993.
Also to be honoured is athletics legend Rosina Sedibane who excelled in 800m and 1500m events in the 1980s. A teacher by profession in Atteridgeville, Sedibane has a school, which is attached to PSL SuperSport United academy, named after her.
Boxing SA chair Ntambi Ravele, Safa national executive member Ria Ledwaba and athlete Caster Semenya will also be recognised for their contribution to sports while the Banyana Banyana duo of Portia Modise and Janine van Wyk will be honoured after earning more than 100 caps for SA.
Modise has played 114 matches and Van Wyk 102.
Top women in line for big awards
This was confirmed by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula who said the event was meant to recognise women excellence every year during August – Women’s Month.
The ever-excited Mbalula added that this was part of his department’s vision to transform sports in the republic.
“We’ve been called upon to respond to Women’s Month celebrations. Over and above that we cannot talk transformation and not talk about women.
We’ve been talking success but we have for a long time ignored women.
My ministry is challenging the status quo and we started this with the Netball Brutal Fruit Cup last year,” he said.
Mbalula questioned sports federations as to why there was no pro league for women.
“Why is it that 20 years into democracy we do not have professional leagues for women in rugby, soccer and cricket in the main?”
He hailed Tenge and Mdodana, and all recipients who will be recognised tonight as women who strive for excellence in their sporting codes.
“They are women of substance, we roll out red carpet for excellence.”
Meanwhile women’s soccer pioneer Gloria “Sweet 16” Hlalele will also be recognised tonight.
Hlalele made a name for herself at the age of 15 after playing with men in the Tembisa United Football League. She played in the same team as former AmaZulu star Joel Ranyawa and later Tumelo Mofokeng, who later played for Tembisa Classic.
She went on to form her own club, Gloria FC, and was one of the founding members of Banyana Banyana in 1993.
Also to be honoured is athletics legend Rosina Sedibane who excelled in 800m and 1500m events in the 1980s. A teacher by profession in Atteridgeville, Sedibane has a school, which is attached to PSL SuperSport United academy, named after her.
Boxing SA chair Ntambi Ravele, Safa national executive member Ria Ledwaba and athlete Caster Semenya will also be recognised for their contribution to sports while the Banyana Banyana duo of Portia Modise and Janine van Wyk will be honoured after earning more than 100 caps for SA.
Modise has played 114 matches and Van Wyk 102.
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