Benoni Northerns Sports Club celebrates their best sportspeople of 2018

Who scooped the prestigious awards?

November 16, 2018

Logan Green 2 minutes read

Cricketer Aron Visser (left) receives the 2018 Benoni Northerns Sports Club Senior Sportsperson of the Year Award from former club chairman John Mitchell.

Benoni Northerns Sports Club is widely regarded as one of the top sporting facilities and clubs in Ekurhuleni.

A quick scan of the honours boards in the main club hall showcases an array of talented sportspeople who have represented the local club with aplomb over the years.

Some have represented at provincial level while others like Jethro Eustice, Rowen Fernandez and Rowan Ebersohn have represented South Africa.

The club’s sporting stars of 2018 were acknowledged when the club held their annual Sportsperson of the Year Awards dinner on November 10.

An independent panel of judges was presented with the nominations from the club’s sporting sub-sections and, based on these, an overall junior and senior Sportsperson of the Year was chosen.

The nominations for the Junior Sportsperson of the Year were Rachel Schwulst (athletics), Robert Emmett (baseball), WP Myburgh (cricket), Andisa Tshwanelo Hola (football), Nikita Klopper (hockey) and Jay Botha (rugby).

Hola was announced as the Junior Sportsperson of the Year for 2018.

Footballer Andisa Tshwanelo Hola (right) receives the Benoni Northerns Sports Club Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award for 2018 from Andrew Dudley.

The young football player is a home-grown talent, having represented Benoni Northerns for the past eight years since the age of eight.

This season he played predominantly for the Super League Reserves and u-19 team but also represented the BNFC first team.

His exceptional performances throughout the season contributed to both the Reserve XI and the u-19s winning their respective leagues, the Reserves doing so for the first time in 17 years.

He was selected for the Eastern Local Football Association’s u-19 team that went unbeaten in the Gauteng District Tournament and the KwaZulu-Natal Tour.

He also received the accolade of being the top goalkeeper in the 2018 provincial tournament.

Andisa Hola in action for Benoni Northerns Football Club.

The nominees for the Senior Sportsperson of the Year were Bright Mikolongwe (athletics), Anthony Sayers (baseball), Aron Visser (cricket), Daniel Suffield (football), Dale Griffiths (hockey) and Stephan Smith (rugby).

Cricket’s Visser claimed the overall honours as the Senior Sportsperson of the Year.

Aron Visser in action on the cricket field for Benoni Northerns Cricket Club.

The 19-year-old Benoni Northerns Cricket Club Premier League XI player is a batsman of exceptional skill and gritty determination.

Through the 2017/2018 cricket season he amassed 599 runs at an average of 39.9 in 18 innings.

His top score was a massive 142 not out and he recorded five half-centuries.

He was also been selected for the Tuks Varsity Cup team, the Eastern semi-professional Africa T20 Cup team and the Easterns Academy Team.

The Club Person of the Year Award, which is awarded to the often unsung heroes of the club – the workers and administrators who make it possible for members to enjoy their sport, was presented to long-time club member Bob Foster.

Life membership of Benoni Northerns Sports Club was bestowed on Shaun Taylor who has been integral in the continued growth and success of junior hockey at the club.