For sportsmen and women who give their best every day, the annual sport awards ceremony is the highlight of their year.
Last week on 20 October the achievements of athletes, coaches, and administrators were celebrated at the Overberg Sports Awards, a grand event held at Curro School in Hermanus.
The ceremony was attended by key figures in Western Cape sport, including JP Naude, President of the Western Cape Provincial Sport Confederation, who delivered an uplifting message of support.
Naude not only praised the dedication of Overberg athletes and administrators but also emphasised the pressing need for corporate sponsorship to assist self-funded sports.
He urged sports leaders to adopt new methods to seek funding, highlighting the importance of embracing the provincial confederation model to develop a more robust media awareness programme. “This approach would enhance the value proposition for the corporate sector, encouraging greater investment in local sports,” he said.
The evening was a memorable one, with Legacy Martial Arts Academy making a clean sweep, including Ruehan van Romburgh being crowned Sportsman of the Year, Administrator of the Year and Coach of the Year.
“This is a great honour for me and the other kickboxers. We work hard to achieve what we achieve and it remains an honour to be nominated, let alone win,” Ruehan said.
Other prizes that Legacy Martial Arts Academy won were: Leyla Brand (Newcomer of the year), Namika Pieterse (School sportswoman of the year), Aidan Brummer (School sportman of the year), Zaanru Fraser (Senior Sportswomen of the year) and Legacy Martial Arts Academy (Recreation Body of the Year).
The event also saw a strong presence from Overberg Jukskei, whose full team proudly displayed their Overberg Jukskei colours, adding to the festive atmosphere of the night.
Mignon van Zyl (18) received the 2024 Junior Sportswoman of the Year award for the 10th time.
Mignon started karate at the age of four and her instructor is the seventh Dan Sensei Ronnie Knott of SA JKA Hermanus Dojo. In 2016 she obtained her Junior Black Belt.
In the same year she represented South Africa at the Region 6 International Karate Championship held in Mauritius where she won a Gold Medal in Kumite. Karate South Africa awarded her with Junior Protea colours.
“SA JKA held its annual National Championship on 24 and 25 May 2024 in Johannesburg where 3 000 karateka’s competed. Trials were also held to select a National Team to compete at the Funakoshi Gichin Cup 16th Karate World Championship, Tokyo, Japan. I came first in the Girls 16-18 years Kumite event and was included in the SA Team but could not attend due to my final Cambridge A level examination,” she said.
Mignon is also a member of the Senior Protea Team competing from 28 to 30 November at the World Karate Federation’s 11th Commonwealth Karate championship held in Durban.
“This is now the end of an era for me in the Overberg. I would like to thank my Instructor, Sensei Ronnie Knott and my fellow karateka for their support over the years,” she said.
The winners of these prestigious awards will now go on to represent Overberg at the Western Cape Provincial Sports Awards on 23 November.
