The game of billions was one of the major winners at a glittering ceremony of the 2022 Momentum gsports Awards held in Johannesburg last night (15 September 2022).
20 categories were on offer on the night of glitz and glamour.z
Reigning African champions, Banyana Banyana were named the Team of the Year, while head coach Desiree Ellis walked away with the Coach of the Year at the 17th edition of the awards held in Johannesburg.
South Korea-based forward Hilda Magaia also won in absentia as she scooped the Public Choice Award – she scored a brace in the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco to help Banyana Banyana lift their maiden continental title.
FIFA Referee Akhona Makalima, took the African Woman in Sport Award.
Hollywoodbets was named the 2022 Nielson Sponsor of the Year the second year running – thanks largely to their involvement with three top football properties – the Hollywoodbets Super League, as well as the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Champions League and the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship.
Over 200 recipients have been honoured since the inception of the Awards in 2006.
“People often ask how we manage to unearth new icons and role models on the stage every year — the answer is simple. We are consistent about telling the story of women’s sports in the gsport newsroom. We average around a 120 stories a month on the gsport initiative and thousands of Tweets and posts that have resulted in 400 nominations across 20 categories this year,” said Founder of gsport Kass Naidoo.
“When I started off as the first women cricket commentator in SA, it was always my dream to see more women around me and I never in my wildest dreams thought we could continue to bring and birth new stars. It wouldn’t have been possible without the likes of [awards sponsors] Momentum. We are so deeply grateful for the corporate support.”
The main aim of the awards was to honour women in sports for their contribution.
Leading insurer, Momentum, has been the Naming Rights Partner of the awards since 2019.
“We are going for it again. We are excited to partner with gsport for the fourth year. Through the Momentum gsport Awards, we not only celebrate and recognise successful women in sport, we are also challenging the sponsorship gap between women’s and men’s sport. I invite the media and other brands to take the leap to invest in and sponsor these amazing professional sportswomen when they play on international and home soil,” Said Charlotte Nsubuga-Mukasa, head of Momentum Brand:
2022 gsport Awards winners
Volunteer of the Year: Shamila Sulayman
Federation of the Year: SA Sport for Physically Disabled
Supporter of the Year: Nakedi Thlathla
Sponsor of the Year: Hollywoodbets
Special Recognition Award recipient: Dorah Vuyelwa Mungwevu
Hall of Fame Inductee: Marian Marescia
Woman in PR and Sponsorship: Maphuti Hlako
Woman in Print: Mpumi Manyisi
Woman in Social Media: Jessica Nkomo
Woman in Radio: Cato Louw
Woman in Television: Nono Cele
Woman of the Year: Bongiwe Msomi
Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis
Team of the Year Winner: Banyana Banyana
African Woman in Sport Award: Akhona Makalima
Global Woman in Sport Award: Lara van Niekerk
School Sports Star of the Year: Lesedi Khunou
Emerging Athlete of the Year: Phiwokuhle Mnguni
Para Sport Star of the Year: Anrune Weyers
Public Choice Award winner: Hildah Magaia
Athlete of the Year: Lara van Niekerk
By Matlhomola Morake
