Limpopo honours its stars

RENOWNED 800m world champion Caster Semenya, Springbok rugby player Victor Matfield and Nathi Lions assistant coach Sello "Skorokoro" Chokoe are top of the list for the Limpopo Sports Achiever Awards.

The event, which has replaced the Limpopo Premier Sports Gala Decorations, honours sports personalities from the province. It is the brainchild of the provincial department of sports, arts and culture.

The awards will take place in Dalmada, Polokwane, on July 23.

Semenya and another 800m world champion Mbulaeni "Bullet" Mulaudzi were nominated in the athletics category, while Matfield and John Smit came in for rugby.

Chokoe is in the soccer category with Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and Banyana Banyana's top goalscorer Noko "Beep Beep" Matlou, while national wheelchair tennis superstar Kgothatso Montjane was also nominated for the Limpopo awards. Montjane was a finalist in the Gauteng Sports Awards a fortnight ago.

Other nominees are Guillo "Sdumo" Marapyane, Tidima Kekana and Vatisa Mhlumbulwa representing softball, and Cassius Baloyi and his father Eric from boxing.

Former Spar Netball South Africa assistant coach Cecilia Molokwane was nominated in the netball category.

Department spokesperson Adel van der Linde remained tight-lipped about the dates and nominations.

Our sources have revealed that all the nominees will be honoured, with the winners from the sports star of the year, the Caster Semenya Excellence and Resilience Award, coach of the year, Steve Tshete Lifetime Award and federation of the year awards will represent the province at the national event in Sun City at a date still to be decided.

Meanwhile, the department was due to hold a sendoff function for 70 local athletes and officials last night who leave for Lausanne, Switzerland, for the 14th World Gymnaestrada on Sunday.