The award comes after her good showing in the ring last year during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She won a bronze medal in the 45-48kg category.
Her sensational run in the past two years seemed to be quite enough for the fists lady to walk away with the prize beating other nominees. Modukanele was up against Ekua Youri of tennis, who is now based in Spain, while the other nominee for the award was Aobakwe Modise of fencing.
Modukanele was not present to receive her award as she is currently in New Delhi, India competing at the International Boxing Associations (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Though she was not around, her family members read out her message on her behalf. “I am really honoured to be the first lady ever to win the sportswoman of the year award and once again I have made history,” her message read. “Whenever I get in the ring I fight with every fibre in me to reach greater heights. It is really great to win such an award and thank everyone who played a role in my career,” she added. Walking away as the sportswoman of year saw Modukanele pocketing a whooping P20,000. On top of the P20 000, Modukanele also won a weekend away at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel with all expenses paid and a fitness smart watch.
Though Modukanele was the biggest winner at the inaugural Botswana women sports awards, she was not the only women to be recognised. Neo Gabontshwe was also the first women with disability to win the sportswoman of the year with disability walking away with P20,000. She also won spar treatment. Gabontshwe is known for her splendid strides on the racetrack in the 400m and 200m. Meanwhile, the coach of the year award went to Pearl Mooketsi who is the coach of boxing.
Boxing has been one of the sport codes doing well on the international stage with Modukanele and Keamogetse Kenosi doing a marvellous job. Mooketsi also walked away with a prize money of her own which was P10,000, smart fitness watch and a weekend away at Hilton Garden Inn. Tebogo Sebego, who is one of the prominent females public figures in the country, appreciated the male figures for continuing to show great support to women in sports, “I know what power does and I know power can make you forget the important things but these men in sports, they are not intoxicated with power they are the leaders of sports but they recognise the role that the women leaders in sports require and mind you, I am not sucking up to them,” Sebego said.
Other award winners:
Kutlo Kesiilwe (Young promising female athlete of the year) Team of the year (Ladies lawn bowl team) Dorothy Okatcha (Umpire of the year) Volunteer of the year (Joyce Madome) Sport journalist of the year tv (Katlego Kgakole) Sport journalist of the year radio (Lebo Morwaeng) Sport journalist of the year print (Anastacia Sibanda) Sport Journalist of the year photography (Kennedy Ramokone) Administrator of the year (Tshepiso Lopang)
