With less than three days until the announcement of the winners of the 2015 SA Sports awards (SASA), wheelchair tennis star Nokwanda Hlongwane is optimistic of snatching the Newcomer of the Year gong.

The 16-year-old talented pupil from Adelaide Tambo School in Soweto has won numerous wheelchair junior tournaments in South Africa.

Nokwanda tells SowetanLIVE that should she win on Sunday she will renovate her parents ‘house and invest the rest of the money towards her education.

The winner in Hlongwane's category will receive R130 000 in cash prize.

The Soweto-born star adds that this is a sign of her hard-work over the years starting to payoff.

"If I win on Sunday I will take that money and make my parents’ house better," she expresses.

"I would like to say thanks to the Minister of Sports, Fikile Mabalula for recognising us people in wheelchairs and I am happy for that."

Taking place at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Mangaung, Free State,  the event will see Hlonwane compete against Jayde Andrew Julius and Kagiso Rabada in the Newcomer of the Year category.

"My parents and coaches were very happy for me after they heard of my nomination news."

Her coach Khotso Matshego describes Nokwanda as a disciplined and hard-working child.

"She is very quiet and easy to work with. She has only played for four years and she has done well for herself," Matshego said.

"She is a second child I’ve coached to reach South African Sport Awards nominees.

"Winning that award on Sunday will be a huge confidence boost for her and she will start believing that she can do more," he adds.