26 Mar 2024

Botswana senior women’s national football team, ‘The Mares’ and their star player, Refilwe Tholakele were the biggest winners at the 2nd edition of the Vunani Botswana Woman Sports awards on Saturday.

The Mamelodi Sundowns and The Mares striker was named Sportswoman of the Year walking away with P20 000 while her team grabbed the Team of the Year award and scooped P25 000 for their successful CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

The Sportswoman of the Year award for persons Living with Disabilities went to Mmakgosi Tlhakanelo of swimming, who walked away with P20 000.

The Administrator of the Year, Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year and HeForShe Champion awards were scooped by Daphne Rakobe of basketball, Nnaniso Magwamba of athletics, Dorothy Okatch of basketball and Ofentse Bakwadi of karate respectively.

The chief executive officer’s awards, namely the Courage and CEO Special awards went to Game Mothibi and Marumo Morule respectively who both won P10 000 each while the Champion for Equality award was scooped by Vunani Managers Fund and Okavango Diamond Company.

The Young Promising Female and Volunteer of the Year awards went to Sethunya Majama and Thuso Nthule who got P7 500 and P5 000 respectively.

The Print Journalist of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year (television), Sports Journalist of the Year (radio) and Photographer of the Year awards were awarded to Anita Rannoba, Motlalepula Darkin, Neo Abobe and Kennedy Ramokoni respectively.

In his keynote address at the ceremony, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare commended Inside BW Women Sports co-directors, Kesego Kebelaele-Okie and Portia Olopeng-Mlilo for the initiative that recognised and rewarded excellence in women in sports.

The initiative, Rakgare said, was in line with the aspirations and goals espoused in Vision 2036 and the Sustainable Development Goals in closing the gender gap.

He also thanked all the sponsors, especially Vunani Fund Managers for making the event successful.

Vunani Fund Managers were the main sponsors of the awards, which were organised by Inside BW Women Sports in collaboration with Women and Sport Botswana (WASBO) to the tune of P600 000 for three years.

WASBO chairperson, Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani said they aimed to advocate and support gender parity in sports and that they collaborated with Inside BW Women Sports magazine in organising the awards ceremony.

Katisenge-Tizhani said the awards were a motivation and recognition of women and girls in sports, adding that they were awarded to those who displayed exceptional performance between January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

She emphasised the need for collaboration by both men and women to achieve gender equality and growth of sport in the country and to avoid conflict between male and female sport.

She also thanked Vunani Fund Managers Botswana, Okavango Diamond Company, Standard Chartered Botswana, Department of Broadcasting Services, Botswana Medical Aid Society, First National Bank

Botswana, Orange Botswana, VTM Security Services, Botswana Football Association, Botswana Football League and Botswana National Sports Commission. For his part, Vunani Fund business development manager, Obakeng Mmusinyane said the event was progressive and a boost to the local sporting fraternity.

Explaining the objectives of the awards, Kebelaele-Okie said the initiative was meant to recognise and reward exceptional performance in women sports, instil passion and zeal to aspiring young athletes, inspire the girl child and contribute to gender parity in sports.

The awards were divided into 16 categories and each winner walked away with prize money and a trophy. ENDS