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Staff Reporter
Having won the Varsity Football Women’s league and fought tooth and nail for the Hollywoodbets Super league (equal on points with the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC with an inferior goal-difference), the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Women’s Football team has undoubtedly achieved significantly this year.
The selection of four of its players to the senior national women’s team Banyana Banyana World Cup squad in Australia and New Zealand put a cherry on top of coach Thinasonke Mbuli’s side’s accolades, which undisputedly earned them Team of the Year at the 2023 UWC Sports
Award.
Mbuli walked away with the Coach of the Year accolade for a third consecutive year, while one of her star players, Bongeka Gamede, who played all Banyana Banyana games in the World Cup, took home the biggest prize – the Sportswoman of the Year award. Sprinter Gianno Peddy received the Sportsman of the Year award.
Mbuli, who is also the assistant coach of Banyana Banyana, attributed the success to teamwork.
“I’m a believer in teamwork, so when the team does well, individuals then get to shine. But then I don’t work alone. I work with an amazing technical team and super talented players that I always say we are
blessed to have. Our job becomes easy when you work with committed and hard-working individuals.”
Mbuli’s aspirations for the future involve witnessing players graduate and continue to compete at a high level. “We want to be the team that produces players that can go play professional football abroad after completing their studies.”
Jenna Bam was among those celebrated at the event when she received the Outstanding Recognition Award.
“This award means a great deal to me as I am so passionate about what I do. To be recognised for something you see as a hobby, something you look forward to doing every day you wake up, is unbelievable. I can’t
thank UWC enough for this award and I am so grateful for what the University has done for me.”
Bam credits UWC for giving her an opportunity to acquire valuable video analysis skills. When she was at UWC, she worked as the Rugby Sport Scientist and Performance Analyst for three-years.
“To go from not knowing how to code three-years ago, to becoming the South African Netball Video Analyst in three-years is testament to the educational environment that UWC offers and encourages.
“Any person that enters that high performance environment is sure to come out with valuable experience and a lifetime of knowledge that no one can take from them,” said Bam happily.
Bam also wished that UWC Sport would continue to shine. “I hope that UWC Sport only goes upwards from here. There is so much talent that is dying to be recognised and so many determined student athletes that have a bright future ahead of them.”
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