Nkosenhle Sibisi

Empowering, recognising and uplifting women was the order of the day at the 15^th gsport Awards that were hosted on Monday night. The awards were broadcasted on SuperSport.

Gsport is an online initiative committed to daily coverage of women’s sport to bridge the gap with men’s sport. This year’s awards had categories like, Emerging Athlete of the Year, School Sports Star, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Women of the Year, Style Star, Woman in PR and Sponsorship, Woman in TV and many more.

Walking away with Style Star of the Year Award is the Chesterville-born, Zinhle Ndawonde. Ndawonde is a Springbok Women’s Sevens vice-captain and a firefighter at the King Shaka International Airport Fire & Rescue.

She said that she is grateful to the gsport for their contribution to women in sport.

“I feel really blessed and thankful to gsport for such platform where they recognise women who have done well in their communities and around the world,” she said.

The 31 year-old has also played for the national team in the Commonwealth Games as well as the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, United States.

She added that she’s thankful to everyone who voted and supported her through the journey and hopes that more corporate sponsors invest more in women’s sports.

“I would like to give special thanks to Mabenya Sport Consultants. They have helped me in being the athlete and inspirational woman that I am today, as well as Adidas who’s come on board to style me and hopefully more of these corporate sponsors will come in to support women sporty,” she added.

Lona Benya, the founder of Mabenya Sports Consultants said that it is heart-warming to see the success of awards that honour women in sports.

“I think the awards were the best run under Covid-19 circumstances. I’m also proud of Zinhle as she articulates well our core values of how young and professional athletes can sell their brand and positively contributes to the community,” said Benya.

Picture: gsport4girls Twitter Page, Iol.co.za