Wheelchair Tennis South Africa on Wednesday congratulated it’s Development Manager Patrick Selepe who is a finalist in the Technical Official of the year category, and junior girls world no.2 Nokwanda Hlongwane who is among the three finalists under the LSEN School Female Athlete of the year for the 2015/16 Gauteng School sport Awards which were revealed last week on Thursday at the Johannesburg Stadium.
Selepe who recently retired from the sport as a player but holds the white badge as the chair umpire has been nominated along Tennis South Africa’s Mpho Makhoba and Archibald Danke of Itireleng Table Tennis. Selepe bowed out of the sport following his doubles title victory in Mauritius, apart from being the chair umpire, the 39-year-old is responsible for nurturing the country’s future stars as the Development Officer.
Kwa-Zulu Natal’s top wheelchair tennis junior Hlongwane is no stranger in completing awards lists following her nomination at last year’s SA Sport Awards. Hlongwane has been nominated in the School Awards this year along with Andile Maseko of St Vincents and Bongekile Sabeka from Hope. Nokwande is one of wheelchair tennis’s rising stars and has proved to be a good player over the years. She has reached a career-best ranking of no 2 globally. The 15-year-old who goes to Adelaide Thambo School took part in the School Games in December 2014, where she was awarded the Minister’s Bursary for a promising up and coming player.
“We are thrilled that Nokwanda Hlongwane and Patrick Selepe have been recognized this year and we are very proud as Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, this is a wonderful reflection on the player’s performance and Selepe’s hard work”, said Wheelchair Tennis South Africa General Manager Karen Losch.
Selepe, Hlongwane named as finalists for 2015/16 Gauteng School Awards
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