My #GAL2022 Experience

In 2022, women in sport have been breaking boundaries and shattering barriers across the globe and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of South Africa’s history-makers at the gsport Annual List of Newsmakers event on Wednesday, 7 December in Johannesburg.

I am extremely honoured to have been invited to such an inspirational and one-of-a-kind event, which was hosted by eNCA Prime Time News Anchor, Tumelo Mothotoane.

To be in a room filled with women who share the same passion and love for sport that I do, is incredible. As a young girl on the hockey field, I could never imagine that there would be such a demand for coverage and sponsorships for women athletes and for women’s sport.

Although, for some, the highlight of this event would be finding out who the newsmaker of 2022 was and why, my personal highlight of this event was slightly different…

My personal highlight was how our women are taking control and realizing that they also deserve coverage for the sporting events that they participate in. I admire and appreciate being in a room with experienced sportswomen who want to create an opportunity for younger and equally talented women to broadcast their success when they themselves never had that opportunity to do so.

I do, however, believe that although some people might argue that due to COVID-19, the past 3 years have been a write-off, it has been the complete opposite for women’s sport in South Africa.

We have gone from hearing almost nothing about women’s sport to hearing about one of gsport’s recipients this year, Banyana Banyana, win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The past 3 years, in reality, have been the calm before the storm.

Being a part of #GAL2022 opened my eyes and made me realize that we are staring at the tip of the ice-berg for women’s sport in South Africa, especially with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup being hosted in South Africa next year.

This event saw seasoned athletes such as Kgothatso Montjane return to the stage. We also saw newcomers such as Saskia Hockly step up for the first time. This shows and proves that this thread of successful, talented and empowering women has just begun. I am beyond excited to see what lies ahead and how our South African sportswomen dominate the national and international stage.

To stand in front of a Commonwealth Games medal, the Women’s African Cup of Nations trophy or even the US Open Wheelchair championship tennis plate was beyond incredible. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to stand in front of one of these. It has made all my dreams become a reality.

The goal that gsport4girls are working towards, is one that has no limits. I am so excited to see what the future holds for our South African women in sport. One thing I can confirm is that the venue for #GAL2023 will be much bigger as women’s sport continues to rise!