Banda the big winner of awards
BORDER Bulldogs flyhalf Masixole Banda, now at Southern Kings, was the big winner at the 2016 Border Rugby Union (BRU) annual awards6.
The tiny yet skilled fullback was crowned the union's Player of the Year and Bulldog of the Year at the awards ceremony held at the Cambridge Hall in East London on Thursday night.
It was at the same event that the BRU went against its self-proclaimed status as the champion for the advancement of women's rugby in South Africa.
This after theyoverlooked Border Women's flyhalf Zintle Mpupha who was also nominated in the Player of the Year categorya.
Mpupha single-handedly guided the Border ladies to their fourth successive inter-provincial championship title and their third in four years as Sevens national champions.
Not only that but Mpupha is currently in the Springbok women’s Sevens camp preparing for a series due in Dubai on December 1-2.
Rugby pundits had expected Mpupha to snatch the big one but it seems the BRU panel of judges were on the different page.
Despite Team of the Year and Coach of the Year awards going the way of Border Women, thanks to the multi-talented Mpupha's contribution, it was not good enough for her to top it up by winning the big one.
Nominated in three categories, Mpupha only managed to come out tops as the Women's Sevens Player of the Year.
But it was not all doom for the deserving Border Women at the awards as three recently retired players were showered with presidential special awards for their contribution to the force that Border is in female rugby in SA.
Those were Mandisa Williams, Luleka Parafini and Nonkosi Sobandla.
BRU big boss Pumlani Mkolo praised the trio for their selfless servicec.
"We acknowledge the dedication and commitment displayed by these distinguished women," said Mkolo.
"They did not become exemplary only in the province and the region but in the country as a whole.’’
Mkolo also expressed concern over the direction rugby at the national stage was taking. He particularly voiced dissatisfaction over the prioritisation of commercial interest at the expense of rugby itself. 2013.
So good a foundation had they laid, he said, that rugby on the Border was at least guaranteed survival for the next 50 years.
"Today is the beginning of better things to come but for it to be ascertained all in rugby must share the same vision. Other winners: Club Player of the Year - Lelo Gemashe (WSU All Blacks).
Club Coach of the Year - Allister Alexander (East London Police).
Club of the Year - EL Police.
Most Improved Women Player of the Year - Lutho Sajini.
Women's Player of the Year - Nolusindiso Booi.
Most Improved Bulldog of the Year - Lunga Dumezweni.
Bulldogs Players' Player of the Year - Lindokuhle Welemu.
Prospect of the Year - Johannes Janse van Rensburg.
Referee of the Year - JP Clemment.
Coach of the Year - Malibongwe Kradu (Border Women). – zingisam@dispatch.co.za