Sportswomen and men from the Overberg have represented the region on both national and international level in various sport codes, such as rugby, netball, karate, rowing and kickboxing.
Therefore it comes as no surprise that a number of athletes from the Overberg were crowned the best in a number of categories at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s prestigious Provincial Sport Awards held at Mutual Park in Pinelands on Saturday 17 September.
These are the culmination of a process of issuing district awards, which took place over the past two months. Winners of the district awards were nominees at the provincial awards ceremony.
Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais stated that sport is an important tool in bringing hope and opportunities.
She said: “Through offering youth especially the opportunities to participate in sport we can identify the sporting stars of tomorrow, but we can also keep our youth safe and offer them meaningful engagements after school hours. The full return of sports in the province will also bring an important economic impact, as we see venues filled to capacity for sports events, and local vendors and jobseekers offered opportunities through large tournaments.”
Head of Department, Guy Redman, emphasised the value of sport in bringing hope to people across the province. He said: “Sports should lead to healing at a time when the country is bleeding. You [the nominees] are our pride, and we thank you for always giving your best, even at the worst of times.”
Worthy winners
Two organisations and one individual from the Overberg were crowned the best in the Western Cape. The Sxolies Aerobics and Fitness Club based in Zwelihle, Hermanus, walked away with the Recreational Body of the Year award.
The chess team of Generation Schools Hermanus were crowned the School Team of the Year and Conroy Williams of Overberg Kickboxing Association received the Sport Community Builder of the Year award.
In 2019, Conroy started the Barrydale Panic Room martial-arts academy, giving free kickboxing classes for children and adults to keep them off the streets and involved in sport. Some of his club members competed at the SAKA South African Kickboxing Championships where one of the three boys won and became the SA champion.
With several successes under their belt, the Generation Schools Hermanus chess team are truly worthy winners in their category. Some of their achievements include winning the u-10 and u-12 divisions of the Overberg Chess Federation Open, six players selected to represent the Overberg in the Rural Chess Cup and one player, Lyle Prinsloo, ending third in the South African Open Chess Tournament, placing him in the Top 10 in the country.
The Sxolies Aerobics and Fitness Club does not only focus on promoting aerobics, but also sustainable arts and culture, sports and recreational programmes, and teaches women self-defence. It operates in different areas of the Overberg and is open to juniors, adults and veterans.Potential
Other nominees from the Overberg include 9-year-old Namika Pieterse of the Overberg Kickboxing Association (School Sportswoman of the Year), Lukhanyo Primary School in Zwelihle’s cross-country team (Developing School Team of the Year) and Sydney Armoed of the TransOverberg newspaper in the Journalist of the Year category.
Marais said: “We know that for those here tonight, sport is not just a job, but a passion and a calling. I want to encourage you to continue living out your passion in any way you can.
“Whether through coaching support to a team that does not have access to a qualified coach, teaching a young child basic sports skills or simply sharing your stories with others – it is through teaching and sharing that we can grow the next generation of sporting stars.”
The full list of the evening’s winners and nominees can be found on the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport website: www.westerncape.gov.za/assets/departments/cultural-affairs-sport.