‘It didn’t come without a fight’: Banyana Banyana player after receiving R100k from Limpopo government
The five Banyana Banyana players from Limpopo who were part of the history-making squad in Morocco were officially honoured on Sunday evening.
Lebogang Ramalepe, Noko Matlou, Nomvula Kgoale, Hildah Magaia and Amogelang Motau were in the 23-member team that won the 2022 Wafcon.
The department of sport welcomed the players through a breakfast session at Meropa Casino Polokwane in July.
During the welcome ceremony, the then MEC Thandi Moraka announced that the department would give each of the five Banyana Banyana players R100 000.
Moraka revealed that the money would be from the MEC special award during the Limpopo Sports Awards ceremony.
“We will give you R100 000. The R50 000 would be coming from the MECs outreach program. The other R50 000 would be coming from the Sports Awards program through the category of the MEC,” announced former MEC Moraka.
The department hosted the awards at the Ranch Hotel outside Polokwane on Sunday, where the players were officially honoured.
Nomvula Kgoale and Hildah Magaia were the only players who physically attended the event. The other players were represented by their families.
BANYANA BANYANA PLAYERS NOT IMPRESSED
But it seems as if the pair were still not impressed that there was a delay in fulfilling the promise.
“I think it didn’t come without a fight. I must thank you, Lethabo (referring to a journalist),” said Nomvula Kgoale.
“When you want someone to fight for you, call this lady. I can’t believe how she was so persistent every single time when I or my other colleagues would give her a call.
“Even though I sometimes didn’t believe it (that we would get our money). Because of how long it took and how we had to actually follow them and said can we please get what you promised us. It feels good, but it didn’t go without a fight.”
“It’s not really exciting as it was at first,” said South Korean-based Hildah Magaia.
“But we really appreciate the fact that they kept their word. They gave us the money, and yeah we appreciate it.”
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