2026 gsport Supporter of the Year, Prabashnee Naidoo, and 2026 Woman in Radio finalist, Ester Baaitjies, have been officially unveiled as brand ambassadors as gsport looks to close out its monumental 20th milestone year on an absolute high.
Following a highly competitive week-long public nomination process launched across social media, the gsport digital and newsroom teams faced the difficult task of narrowing down a wave of passionate entries.
Ultimately, Naidoo and Baaitjies were selected for their exceptional, all-round advocacy of the campaign, their uplifting digital presence, and their selfless support of their fellow finalists during the awards cycle.
The selection of these two ambassadors highlights the power of the platform to unearth new role models. As the gsport selection team noted, Prabashnee Naidoo has undergone a remarkable transformation within the community ecosystem. “Naidoo has gone from virtual unknown on social media last year before the Awards, to one of the most recognisable faces in women’s sport and a gsport Award winner this year.”
Her journey underscores the core mission of gsport: providing visibility to the people who passionately champion the women’s game from the sidelines and grandstands.
Meanwhile, Ester Baaitjies represents the grit and self-determination required to succeed in the modern sports media landscape. Emerging as a self-nominated powerhouse, she navigated stiff competition during the rigorous judging and public voting phases to secure a coveted finalist spot in the competitive Woman in Radio category for her exceptional broadcast work on CUT FM.
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Operating from her base in Bloemfontein, Baaitjies has consistently proved that geographic location is no barrier to regional impact. She has used her platform to project her voice nationally, intentionally creating space and broadcast opportunities to celebrate, interview, and uplift other women in sport across the Free State and beyond.
The ambassador program holds a storied place in the platform’s history, evolving alongside South Africa’s sporting landscape. The first ever cohort was introduced in 2012 for the #SPARgsportAwards campaign – including six celebrities who used their voices to drive public support for the awards campaign.
That historic inaugural 2012 lineup tapped into broad cultural communities by featuring influential media and entertainment personalities, including Roxy Burger, Mpho Maboi, Anele Mdoda, Shashi Naidoo, Hulisani Ravele, and Liezel van der Westhuizen.
In 2023, the initiative underwent a strategic shift with the launch of the #gsport18 #PowerOfRecognition Ambassador Program. Rather than relying on outside celebrity voices, gsport began calling back its own former winners and finalists. This structural shift allowed alumni to step into paid influencer roles, host engaging digital discussions on platforms like Instagram Live, and share their firsthand experiences of being recognised on the national stage to encourage the public to discover local heroes.
gsport Founder, Kass Naidoo, noted that the 2026 cohort steps into a unique operational window, tasking the duo with a post-awards mandate to keep momentum alive.
“The role of the two ambassadors this year is slightly different in that the awards are already over,” explained Naidoo. “The challenge now is how to use this solid base to continue growing women’s sport and getting women in sport to believe in themselves.”
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“Congratulations to both Prabashnee and Ester! The gsport team looks forward to working with them both to ensure that they get to powerfully use their voices to change the game, and that gsport continues to have a positive influence on their personal careers.”
As the global profile of South African women’s sport continues to surge, Naidoo has urged women across all sporting codes, administrations, and media houses to remain deeply connected with the platform’s digital networks.
“Reach out to the gsport team and ask for help. That’s why we are here. We want to see women in sport flourish and we have seen the gsport community rally and support those around them. Be part of the community and start believing in the power of your dreams!”
Main Photo Caption: 2026 gsport Supporter of the Year, Prabashnee Naidoo, has been officially unveiled as a 2026 brand ambassador, transforming from a social media fan into one of the most recognisable advocates championing women’s sport across South Africa from the grandstands. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: 2026 Woman in Radio finalist Ester Baaitjies steps up gsport looks to close out its 20th milestone year on an high.
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