It is time once again for sporting legends of the Free State to trade in their tracksuits and tekkies, and celebrate their sporting achievements in their best evening dresses and suits.
The Free State Sport Stars Awards will take place on 3 October at Monte Bello in Bloemfontein, and will once again set the stage for the celebration of sporting excellence.
The Protea netball star Karla Pretorius was awarded this title in 2023 and is back in the running for her achievements on the court this year.
The awards, originally organised by the Free State Sport Writer’s Association, have been an institution since the 1950’s. Nowadays, the event is hosted in a collaboration between Central24 and the University of the Free State (UFS), with Standard Bank being the main sponsor.
Eight female athletes are competing to be recognised as Sportswoman of the Year for their achievements in the past year.
The nominees are:
- Louzanne Coetzee (athletics): Over the years Coetzee became a household name across South Africa Z not just for her achievements, but also for her warm heart and wit. In September this year, she pocketed a bronze medal in the 1 500 m (T11) at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France. Besides that, she also ran a personal best time of 4:35.49 – which also improved upon the previous Paralympic record. To be chosen to take part at the Paralympic Games is in its own right something to be proud of, but to take a bow on the world’s greatest sporting stage is magnificent.
Her bronze medal is not just a prestigious achievement for the Free State, but for the whole of South Africa. The proof of the significance of this podium placement is evident when looking at the wide-spread coverage it achieved from South African news publications.
Coetzee also took part in the marathon (T11 and T12) and finished seventh with a seasonal best time of 3:25:53.
- Khanyisa Chawane (netball): Being one of the most celebrated women in South African sports, it is only right to celebrate the achievements of its players. Because of its nation-wide popularity, it is considered quite an achievement when you get assigned to lead the national team. Chawane was appointed as the captain of the Protea netball team in August of this year. All the while she is the assistant coach of the Kovsies netball team, who are currently shining at the Varsity Cup-tournament. This player, who is comfortable on either wing defence or centre, takes over the reigns of captaincy from the esteemed Bongiwe Msomi, who has led the team with distinction since 2016. For Chawane to be entrusted with this task is evidence of the confidence there is in her.
She has represented the Proteas in away series against England and Australia at the end of 2023. Chawane is not just making her mark as a player herself, she also inspires the netball players of the Free State who aspire to follow in her shoes one day. Placed firmly in fifth position on the current World Netball Rankings, it is evident that the Proteas pose as quite a contender for teams worldwide.
- Yolandi Stander (athletics – discus throw): Stander is no stranger when it comes to participating in international championships and coming home with some awards. The past year has been no different. Not only did she perform prestigiously on home soil and bagged a first place at the South African Championships with a winning distance of 55 m, she was also part of the team who took part in the African Games and the African Championships. She ended in fifth place in both these events.
At the African Games, which took place in Accra, Ghana, she threw a distance of 55.44 m, while at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, her discus travelled 53.57 m.
- Karla Pretorius (netball): When one needs a leader for a sports team, sometimes experience is the best key in finding a player to fill that role. Who better to be the vice-captain of the South African national netball team than a player who has been in the team for 13 years?
During this time, Pretorius represented the Proteas in more than 110 test matches and in three World Cup tournaments. Pretorius, who became only the fifth player to join the Protea’s Centurion Club in 2023 by playing her 100th match on home soil, was more recently entrusted with vice-captaincy of this team during two away series they played against England and Australia. These matches took place at the end of 2023.
All the while she is also doing her part for the Free State and this province’s prospective Protea players. Pretorius is also a cardinal part of the Free State Crinums, who triumphed in the Telkom Netball League for the first time since 2016 earlier this year. She is also the head coach of the Fichardtpark High School in Bloemfontein’s U18A team.
- Taheera Augousti (hockey): At the young age of only 19, Augousti has already showcased her talent on the hockey field time and time again Z and that with her professional career having only just begun. This year Augousti, born and bred in Bloemfontein and an alumnus of the Eunice High School, showcased her potential on the world stage by being included in the Protea women’s hockey team that took part in the Olympic Games in Paris, France. With the announcement of this team’s participation at the Games, Augousti already had 26 caps for the Proteas behind her name. They played five matches during the Olympics.
- Ntsopa Mokoena (hockey): Mokoena is no stranger on the hockey field and ever since her Protea-debut in 2022, she has been making waves. Mokoena, who sharpened her skills on the fields of the eastern Free State where she matriculated at the Bethlehem Voortrekker High School, represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Paris earlier in 2024. This team played five matches during their time at the Games. This forward player for the Green and Gold is rooted firmly in her Free State heritage – so much so that she was supported dearly by this province and its people during her participation in Paris.
- Nita Scholtz-Albertse (badminton): After years and years of hard work and dedication, Scholtz-Albertse finally secured her place in the South African Olympic Team who took part in the Games in Paris earlier in 2024. She was also the only badminton player representing South Africa on this world stage and one of two women’s singles players from Africa. This after she almost left the sport about two years ago.
But this sport has been a part of her life for 20 years, and her love for it was stronger than the politics that tried to keep her from achieving her goals. Another success for Scholtz-Albertse in 2024 was when she became the African Champion in her sport and became the second player ever to successfully win this title back-to-back. She also won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles with Caden Kakora.
- Kesa Molotsane (athletics): Molotsane has always been known for her strong strides and ability to go the distance. She is no stranger when it comes to long distance and fast paced running.In 2024 she proved that at the age of 32 years she still has a lot of kick in her when she was chosen to form part of the South African team that took part in the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. Here she finished 45th in the women’s half-marathon and the South African women’s team she was a part of finished in fourth place overall.
