Netball players rewarded at KwaZulu-Natal Netball Awards Ceremony
Recognising the efforts to promote and develop netball at provincial level, the KwaZulu-Natal Netball Awards Ceremony recognised players, teams, coaches and officials who stood out in 2020 despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
KwaZulu-Natal Netball president Gugu Ngema said they were delighted with the performance of provincial teams Kingdom Stars and Kingdom Queens in the previous year’s Telkom Netball League. She also highlighted the excellent progress of KwaZulu-Natal netball players who were part of the national team.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, and Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nocawe Mafu, commended KwaZulu-Natal Netball (KZNN) for their dedication to the development of netball and providing opportunities to young aspiring players in the province.
MEC Mavimbela said:
“As we look forward to the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, I would like to encourage Netball South Africa and KZN Netball supported by the KZN Confederation and the Department to lead us on creating sustainable programmes as part of a lasting legacy for the country and KwaZulu-Natal. I would like to see that a child from a deep rural village benefit from the World Cup being hosted in our country. Failure to do so would mean failing our communities”.
Deputy Minister Mafu encouraged better support of netball as it is one of the codes that is played by thousands of young South Africans. She also highlighted the achievements of the SPAR Proteas.
“We must be reminded to celebrate the great achievement of our netball team, the Proteas, that has been winning their games and has already qualified for the Netball World Cup. This is a great achievement and our netball team has never failed us. We are proud of them and as a nation we must celebrate their achievements,” she said.
Other noteworthy guests at the ceremony were eThekwini Municipality’s Community Services Committee Chairperson, Cllr Ntokozo Sibiya, the President of KZN Sports Confederation, Thami Mchunu, and Netball South Africa CEO Blanche De La Guerre.
KZNN President, Gugu Ngema awarded the President’s Award category to TV Mkhize who is also her predecessor and current deputy. She commended Mkhize for promoting stability to provincial netball leadership.
Winners at the KwaZulu-Natal Netball Awards Ceremony:
- Magda du Plessis – Coach of the year
- Lwazi Qhawe Mncwabe – Umpire of the year
- Nomusa Sithole – Manager of the year
- Thabile Mdletshe – Technical officer of the year
- Kingdom Queens – Team of the year
- Sandiso Zulu – Defender of the year (males)
- Fezeka Sondzaba – Defender of the year (females)
- Percy Thebede – Mid-court player of the year (males)
- Tarle Mathe – Mid-court player of the year (females)
- Sifiso Mntambo – Shooter of the year (males)
- Nomfundo “Hlokoloza” Mngomezulu – Shooter of the year (females)
- Sheppy Central Netball Team – Most disciplined team of the year
- Nolwazi Mathe – Most improved player of the year
Public voting categories
- Danelle van der Linde – Sportswoman of the year
- Percy Thabede – Sportsman of the year
- Nompumelelo “Mpumi” Mthembu – Personality of the year
To stay up to date with South African netball news, please check out The South African’s dedicated netball page here.
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