• Goitumetswe Ekopanye won the Player of the Year Award in the T20 category for the North-West University (NWU) Mafikeng Ladies 1 team at the 2026 North West Cricket Awards.
• She was also named the Bowler of the Year in the same category, marking this as her first-ever awards she won since playing the sport.

Hailing from Taung, the young and dedicated Goitumetswe has always believed in hard work, dedication, sacrifice and writing your own script. Her collaborative spirit played a key role in the success of the NWU Mafikeng Ladies 1 team, who won the North West Dragons Women’s Premier B League.

During the season, she earned four Player of the Match awards, and was recognised as both Bowler of the Year and Player of the Year at the North West Cricket Awards.

Goitumetswe fell in love with cricket because of the excitement, the teamwork, the challenges of constantly improving her skills and the adrenaline rush she experiences on the field. What began as fun turned into a real passion that she seriously wanted to pursue. Her discipline and commitment paid off at the North West Cricket Awards held at Snowflake in Potchefstroom on Saturday 9 May, where she was recognised for her excellence in the game.

“Winning these accolades felt so unreal,” she explained. “It’s the kind of achievement that reflects all the hard work throughout the season. None of this would have been possible without my teammates, coach and everyone who supported me along the way.”

Reflecting on receiving the awards, she said: “I felt a mix of excitement, pride, and gratitude all at once. Everything just replayed in my mind: the early mornings, the tough matches, the hard training sessions and all the challenges throughout the season. It was definitely one of those moments I will never forget.”

She dedicated her achievements to her teammates, her support system on the field, saying that none of this would have been possible without them.

Her biggest influence has been the people who supported her from the beginning, those who have encouraged her to keep going even during difficult times. “I have also looked up to professional cricketers who show discipline,  confidence and a passion for the game, because they inspire me to work hard and believe in myself,” she added.

Apart from receiving two major awards, one of the moments she is most proud of was her standout performance against Dafita Rovers in Vryburg.

“I was playing against Dafita Rovers in Vryburg, and I took five wickets and a hat-trick. That was the best moment of my cricket career so far.”

Her favourite cricketer is Laura Wolvaardt, whom she admires for her composure and the way she carries herself both on and off the field.

“My favourite professional cricketer is Laura Wolvaardt, captain of the Proteas Women. I really admire her calmness and consistency, and the way she carries herself. Watching her play has motivated me to work harder and improve my own game. Her dedication and success demonstrate that, with discipline, confidence and passion, anything is possible.”