Wits women shine brightly at Futballing Girls awards
- Tshepiso Mametela
The spotlight shone brightly on Wits Football as three of its active participants received the nod at the recent Futballing Girls Johannesburg Women in Sport Awards.
Vinolia Austin walked away as the 2021 Administrator of the Year, while Kelello Tswai scooped the 2021 Technical Official of the Year award. Nandi Buthelezi, who forms an integral part of the high-performance operation at Wits Sport, was named as a finalist in the Community Sports Journalist of the Year category.
Austin identified the recognition as a natural motivator that has strengthened her appreciation for her role within the various structures and systems at Wits Football.
“My contributions to the different teams to reach their goals were recognised and rewarded. It is very encouraging,” said Austin, who reveled in her role as a 足球竞彩app排名 compliance officer during the season.
“Making sure opposition teams were compliant in the ABC [Motsepe] League proved to be more important than I initially imagined,” Austin noted.
Encouraged by the teams’ show of improvement in the past few seasons, the admin assistant said it has deepened her desire to make a profound impact within the field.
“My biggest joy comes from watching the different teams achieve their [collective] and individual goals, from coaches to players alike,” she said.
“As an administrator, my job is [essentially] to make it easier for coaches and players to reach their goals effortlessly.”
Tswai, whose role as a strength and conditioning specialist has been crucial in the delivery of a cutting-edge football program at Wits, noted the importance of lending oneself as a support system to the athlete.
She praised the women’s sports awards and the impact the initiative has had on young girls, including student-athletes, to stake a claim in what remains a male-dominated ambit.
“Athletes need to know that they are safe in your care as they dedicate so much time to the program,” said Tswai.
“Taking care of my athletes is my job, yes, but it’s something that warms my heart because when I do my job to the T, it makes my athletes’ job easier in their performance.
“Throughout the years, I’ve seen women starting to get recognized for their excellence and contributions to sport, especially since it's dominantly been about men.
“It’s heartwarming to see women now profoundly getting recognized for their brilliance in high-performance sport and the impact they have [had on] student-athletes” added Tswai.
Noting her nomination, Buthelezi said it was one of the biggest highlights of her career, while it validated her hard work as part of the University’s multi-faceted high-performance curriculum.
“It was an honour to have my name mentioned among other incredible finalists on such a big platform,” said an excited Buthelezi.
“The nomination has given my career a big boost because people in the industry are watching, and this has aided in getting more opportunities in sport.”
The avid sports scribe added that the awards are an important instrument for shedding light on women from all walks of life who are active contributors to a dynamic sporting landscape.
“They are a great platform for women who do not normally get acknowledged for their efforts, to not only grow women’s sport but sport as a whole.
“I think what Futballing Girls are doing will create a big shift for women in the media and leadership spaces, and continue to raise the profile for women in sport,” said Buthelezi.