Tough battle for Sportswoman of the Year | News24

It’s time again for the Free State’s sporting legends to trade in their tracksuits and tekkies and celebrate their sporting achievements in their finest evening gowns and suits.

The Free State Sport Stars Awards will take place on October 3 at Monte Bello in Bloemfontein and will once again be the stage for the celebration of sporting excellence.

Protea netballer Karla Pretorius was awarded the title in 2023 and will be in contention again this year for her on-field exploits.

Originally organised by the Free State Sport Writer’s Association, the awards have been an institution since the 1950s. Today, the event is organised in partnership between Central24 and the University of the Free State (UFS), with Standard Bank as the main sponsor.

Eight female athletes will compete for the title of Sportswoman of the Year, for their achievements over the past year.

The nominees are:

• Louzanne Coetzee (athletics): Over the years, Coetzee became a household name throughout South Africa Z not only for her achievements, but also for her warm heart and humor. In September this year, she won a bronze medal in the 1500m (T11) at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France. She also ran a personal best of 4:35.49 – which also broke the previous Paralympic record. Being chosen to compete in the Paralympic Games is something to be proud of in itself, but bowing on the biggest sporting stage in the world is amazing.

Her bronze medal is not only a prestigious achievement for the Free State, but for the whole of South Africa. The evidence of the significance of this podium placing is clear when you look at the wide coverage it received from South African news publications.

Coetzee also competed in the marathon (T11 and T12) and finished seventh with a season best time of 3:25:53.

• Khanyisa Chawane (netball): As one of the most celebrated women in South African sport, it is only right to celebrate the achievements of her players. Given her national popularity, it is considered quite an achievement to be assigned to lead the national team. Chawane was appointed captain of the Protea netball team in August this year. She is now assistant coach of the Kovsies netball team, who are currently shining at the Varsity Cup tournament. The player, who is equally at ease at wing defence and in the centre, takes over the captaincy reins from the esteemed Bongiwe Msomi, who has led the team with distinction since 2016. The fact that Chawane has been given this role is a testament to the trust placed in her.

She has represented the Proteas in away matches against England and Australia in late 2023. Chawane is not only making her mark as a player, she is also inspiring the Free State netball players who aspire to one day follow in her footsteps. Sitting firmly at fifth in the current World Netball Rankings, it is clear that the Proteas are a strong contender for teams worldwide.

• Yolandi Stander (athletics – discus throwing): Stander is no stranger to competing in international championships and coming home with a number of awards. This past year was no different. Not only did she perform prestigiously on home soil, taking first place at the South African Championships with a winning throw of 55m, she was also part of the team that competed at the African Games and African Championships, finishing fifth in both events.

During the African Games, which took place in Accra, Ghana, she threw a distance of 55.44 m, while during the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, she threw a distance of 53.57 m.

• Karla Pretorius (netball): When you need a leader for a sports team, sometimes experience is the best key to finding a player who can fill that role. Who better to be the vice-captain of the South African national netball team than a player who has been on the team for 13 years?

During this time, Pretorius represented the Proteas in over 110 Test matches and three World Cup tournaments. Pretorius, who became only the fifth player to join the Proteas’ Centurion Club in 2023 by playing her 100th match on home soil, was recently entrusted with the team’s vice-captaincy for two away matches they played against England and Australia. These matches took place towards the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, she is also doing her part for the Free State and the future Protea players of that province. Pretorius is also a key part of the Free State Crinums, who earlier this year celebrated their first victory in the Telkom Netball League since 2016. She is also the head coach of Fichardtpark High School in Bloemfontein’s U18A team.

• Taheera Augousti (hockey): At the young age of just 19, Augousti has already shown her talent on the hockey field several times Z and that while her professional career was just beginning. This year Augousti, born and raised in Bloemfontein and a former pupil of Eunice High School, showed her potential on the world stage by being part of the Protea women’s hockey team that competed at the Olympic Games in Paris, France. By the time the team was announced for the Games, Augousti had already racked up 26 caps for the Proteas. They played five games at the Olympics.
• Ntsopa Mokoena (hockey): Mokoena is no stranger to the hockey field, having made waves since her Protea debut in 2022. Mokoena, who honed her skills on the fields of the Eastern Free State where she graduated from Bethlehem Voortrekker High School, represented South Africa at the Paris Olympics earlier in 2024, playing five games during their time at the Games. The Green and Gold forward is firmly rooted in her Free State heritage – so much so that she received a huge amount of support from the province and its people during her time at the Paris Games.
• Nita Scholtz-Albertse (badminton): After years and years of hard work and dedication, Scholtz-Albertse finally secured her spot on the South African Olympic team that competed earlier in the 2024 Games in Paris. She was also the only badminton player to represent South Africa on this world stage and one of two female singles players from Africa. This after almost quitting the sport about two years ago.

But the sport has been part of her life for 20 years and her love for it was stronger than the politics that tried to stop her from achieving her goals. Another success for Scholtz-Albertse in 2024 was when she became African Champion in her sport, becoming only the second player ever to successfully win the title back-to-back. She also won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles with Caden Kakora.

• Kesa Molotsane (athletics): Molotsane has long been known for her strong stride and ability to go the distance. She is no stranger to long distances and fast running. In 2024, she proved that at 32 years old, she still has a lot in her when she was chosen to be part of the South African team that competed at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. There, she finished 45th in the women’s half marathon and the South African women’s team she was part of finished fourth overall.