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Recognising Women in Sport

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality yesterday celebrated top women achievers in various sporting codes who continue to excel and fly the Nelson Mandela Bay flag high.

In a first of its kind, the Recognition of Women in Sport Awards were held at the Feather Market Centre in Port Elizabeth and saw 42 women from across the City getting certificates and trophies of recognition from Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SRAC) Portfolio Head Cllr Helga van Staaden.

The awards aimed to celebrate female athletes, administrators and technical officials who have excelled at Provincial, Nationals and International level.

MMC van Staaden said the City saw it fit to finally host such awards in celebration of women who were excelling in the sports sector despite facing various challenges.

“Today is a good day in our City. We are honouring top achieving women during a special month of Women’s Month. It is the first time we are hosting such awards and we plan to make it an annual event. These are women in aquatics, boxing, cricket, darts and in disability sport among other codes, young and old.”

“As a society we tend to celebrate people when they have died and speak so great of them when they can’t even hear us. We certainly want to change that narrative and we commit that from now on we shall give people their flowers while they can still smell them,” Cllr van Staaden said.

She added that her Directorate was committed in taking steps to promote women in sport, starting with hosting an all female Mayor’s Cup as instructed by Executive Mayor Cllr Nqaba Bhanga recently.

During the ceremony, the sports stars highlighted the challenges they have overcome in different sporting codes that are either male dominated or considered to be “elite”.

Boxing champion Nozipho Bell said it was an honour to be celebrated by her hometown.

“I feel very honoured to be here today, to be part of this event. It was very important for me to attend this event to share my story and motivate younger athletes that they must chase their dreams, to never stop dreaming and to dream big,” Bell said.

South African Ladies Head Waterpolo Coach Delaine Mentoor said: “I think such an event is amazing and for any organisation to organise an event that highlights the sacrifices and achievements is incredible. I think for women it is difficult to accept awards and recognition and it’s so nice that there this is a platform that is allowing us to be seen and heard. Today I feel very honoured and proud to be a part of this. I would like to see inclusivity for women in sport. This should not be an isolated event.”

NMB Women In Sport
NMB Women In Sport

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.