Wheelchair tennis sensation Kgothatso ‘KG’ Montjane could hardly control her emotions when she took to the podium to accept a sponsorship deal from beauty and cosmetics company Avon on September 22.
Motjane, who has since been crowned SA Spring Open champion for 2021 for the second time after bagging the title in the inaugural tournament in 2019, wept like a baby as she thanked Avon for the two-year deal with options to renew.
“Those of you who know my history and the struggles I have gone through to get to where I am now, will understand and forgive me for being this cry baby. I have struggled for many years as a disabled sports person but watch me now,” she said, borrowing the sales line of her new sponsor.
Montjane assured her new sponsor that she would not disappoint in her tennis career, unaware that four days on, she would be crowned SA Spring Open champion again. “I will work hard to deliver on the sponsorship with continued success in my career.
“I would like to thank Avon for believing in me and my career and ability to rise above disability. I hope to make you proud sponsors so you never regret why you chose me to be an ambassador of your brands,” Montjane said.
Momin Hukamdad, executive commercial marketing director at Avon Justine, said the company’s new motto of Watch Me Now, which underpins the importance of supporting and celebrating stories of triumph over adversity, resonated well with Montjane’s struggles to overcome adversity.
Hukamdad described Montjane as a trailblazer and an accomplished athlete who had for many years flown South Africa’s flag high internationally.
“Having been ranked number one in Africa for 11 years consecutively, Kgothatso is currently positioned in fifth place on the International Tennis Federation ranking board and this is no mean feat,” Hukamdad said.
Montjane was born with a congenital birth defect which necessitated the amputation of her leg below the knee at the age of 12. She became the first player from Africa to compete in a tennis grand slam final at Wimbledon in both the singles and doubles.
