MOSSEL BAY NEWS FLASH - Athletes from a variety of sporting codes were honoured for their acheivements of the past year during the second Mossel Bay Sports Awards hosted on Friday, 9 October at the Garden Court Hotel.
Despite the good attendance, Chairman of the Mossel Bay Sports Council, Heini Benn expressed the desire for even more sporting codes to affiliate with the Council in order to grow the event's stature.
The event is intended to not only mark a highlight on the annual sporting calendar, but also serves as an appropriate pinnacle of the Mossel Bay Sports Festival, which commenced on 1 October.
Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Fereira expressed the vision of Mossel Bay becoming the sports capital of the Western Cape in her address, stating that his would be beneficicial to the entire community, especially on a local economic level. Alderlady Ferreira commended the dedication and commitment of the sporting community in aiding the growth of the Sports Festival, which at its onset in 2012, hosted 26 sporting codes, compared to the 37 represented this year.
"From our history, we simply have to draw on our experiences surrounding the Rugby World Cup 1995 and our historical victory during the tournament. We have seen how sport builds bridges and unites people. It is equally wonderful seeing this happen in Mossel Bay."
As guest speaker, President of SWD Cricket, Rudi Claassen, spoke about the union's determined rise to become a recognised affiliate of SA Cricket.
"Success comes to those who show the most determination, but this does not mean that you will not fail a few times before getting there. But failing is a necessary part of success, as you need to firstly overcome failure in order to succeed."
Julia Stander and Aiden Vorster were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year by the Mossel Bay Sports Council on Friday, 9 October. Stander is a member of the U/19 SA underwater hockey team, who won the world championship earlier this year. Vorster is a member of the national U/23 tug of war, currently the South African champions. Stander and Vorster were respectively awarded the titles of Secondary School Sportswoman and Sportsman of the year. Photo: Tersia Marais
Asanda Maneli is the Sportswoman (with a disability) of the Year. Maneli excelled at the SA Championships, diasbled sport winning gold in javelin and bronze in shot put. With her in the photograph is Patrick Saayman, who received the award Sportsman (with a disability) of the Year on behalf of Aduo Breedt, in his absence. Breedt is the current SA Championship Disabled Sport record holder in shot put.
For more on the results and award winners, see Friday's Mossel Bay Advertiser, and online.
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