Famous sports administrator Norah Mudzielwana (45) who was the first woman in the area to establish a ladies soccer team years ago, was finally honoured for her selfless effort to improve sport in the rural areas.

Mudzielwana was among the many recipients from different sporting codes during a ceremony to honour those who contributed towards sports development in the Vhembe region. It was organised by the Vhembe FET College.

Students from the different sporting codes at the college who excelled were also honoured during the occassion.

The coordinator and originator of the awards, Mr Zebulon Nelwamondo of the Vhembe FET, said the awards were meant to encourage and motivate those involved in the development of sport. "We have some students who cannot perform well academically but who excel in sports. We felt that we should motivate them in one way or another that they take sports seriously and could make a professional living out of sport."

The guest speaker, well-known Limpopo businessman Dr Avhasei Khomunala, urged the recipients not to look down upon themselves as they had embarked on a journey that could see them as political leaders and also as professional sport people. "To the people who were honoured here today, we say that this is a launching pad for your careers, and students from the different sporting codes could make a living out of sport."

Ms Mudzielwana, who started a women's team and a senior citizens team in Tshandama, said the award would motivate her to work even harder in developing sport."I am so excited. I have other awards, but this one is very special in that it is from a very distinguished institution like Vhembe FET College," she said. She is a teacher at the Luvhengo Secondary School.