“Winning on the gsport stage was an honour and privilege but the impact was even greater” – Shamila Sulayman has graced the gsport Awards stage and speaks to what that type of recognition means not just to her but to all those involved. She walked away with the Volunteer of the Year award in 2022, a passion that is very close to her heart.
Sulayman says the accolade showed her the #PowerOfRecognition in action. “Having won the gsport Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022 was an absolute honour and privilege.”
“The experience was nothing short of magical, but the impact was even greater. In recognising the work of volunteers in sports, gsport provides a platform for those who give selflessly of their time, efforts, and self for the betterment and empowerment of others, amongst other things.”
“This #PowerOfRecognition is a strong message to volunteers that their work is certainly not in vain – they are seen; they are celebrated; and they are recognised. It inspires others to volunteer; not for the opportunity to be showcased for what they do, but for the satisfaction of helping others achieve greatness, or at least a part thereof.”
Sulayman adds that the experience helped to shine the spotlight on a thriving community in women’s sport.
“Being a part of the gsport experience also gives one insight into other sportswomen and girls who excel in their respective fields, broadening our networks of women and girls in sport, who should always be acknowledged and celebrated, and which is precisely what gsport does.”
“On a personal note, it was an absolute dream for me that, a year after I had won the gsport Volunteer of the Year Award, my amazing daughter, Leila Steyn-Daku, a phenomenal woman in sport, won the gsport Global Woman in Sport for her work at the International Cricket Council, and in cricket, in general. This was hugely inspirational – we’ve been inspiring each other for years.
Photo: Supplied
It’s not hard to see why Sulayman earned the recognition for her ongoing and meaningful contribution as a volunteer, a selfless undertaking to improve the sport of rugby.
“Volunteering has been part of my DNA for nearly two decades! WP Rugby and Club Rugby — with Collegians Rugby Football Club, which I’ve supported for almost 40 years, and community radio broadcasting at Radio 786, as a sports presenter.”
“I believe that the accolades that one acquires from volunteering far outweigh any monetary value.”
Sulayman reflects on what she has learned as a volunteer and how it has given her many new skills and priceless opportunities.
“Volunteering presents you with opportunities to meet so many people from all walks of life; it’s an education of note – learning about people and the different things that they do and excel at, and in my case, because of my work at Radio 786, I often get to meet unsung athletes and community stalwarts involved in sport, and I often assist them, through the show, with raising funds to allow them to participate in their respective sports codes.”
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“They’re all champions of their causes in different ways, and I love this! Volunteering has also given me the opportunity and space to impact others to grow and develop their potential, especially in the rugby areas of my work.”
“I would encourage others to engage in community volunteering – not only is it hugely fulfilling on a personal level, but you don’t always realise the massive impact that you make on the other’s life that you’re assisting – in any capacity, small or big, and this is priceless!”
The passionate volunteer has become a well-known figure in rugby in Cape Town and has now taken another positive step in improving the game in the Mother City. Her relentless passion saw her named and appointed as the WP Rugby Vice-President earlier this year. Sulayman was also the first woman elected to be on Western Province (WP) Rugby’s Executive Committee in 2022.
Sulayman says her latest appointment shows that gender parity in the sport is something WP Rugby is working hard towards and bodes well for the women’s future in the sport on and off the field.
“Being elected as the first-ever female in WP Rugby’s presidency is special – not only for me, personally, but it speaks to the progressive attitudes and mindsets of our predominantly male voters.
“For me, it was a victory for all girls and women involved in sports. Admittedly, I was disappointed that one or two more women were not elected as Additional Members of the Executive Committee, but I believe that we are making strides in this respect, and certainly part of my duty is to pave the way for others to follow.”
“We have many competent women leaders within WP Rugby’s Club Rugby structures, and we need to see more of these women filtering through to leadership positions.”
“There is a gross under-representation of women, which increases as one moves from participation levels to leadership positions in any sporting codes.”
Sulayman says increased opportunities for women in leadership positions, and gender stereotypes need to be dismantled, as this holding on to such generalisations won’t lead to meaningful change.
“We need to keep challenging the many gender biases out there because this is a sad reality that prevents many competent women from taking up their rightful positions within sport leadership.”
“This narrative applies specifically to male-dominated sports codes like rugby, where males regard themselves as being superior and should, therefore, ‘rule the roost’ in the boardrooms, and on the field of play. There are many competent women involved in rugby, and they should be respected and welcomed in these spaces.”
“Secondly, spaces must be created for women to assume positions of authority in sport – either through policies or progressive mindset shifts (though, honestly, I’m not sure how much longer the latter will need!) – inclusivity is key to addressing gender inequity. We need governance and decision-making processes, which will truly support this journey.”
“And, finally, I believe that it’s important to celebrate girls and women who do excel in different areas of sport – to inspire others to follow suit and for them to surpass the glass ceilings that have already been broken.”
She shared that ensuring she has an EQ (emotional intelligence) has been instrumental in how she navigated her career in boardrooms over the years.
“Channelling my emotional intelligence, for sure, and using it to understand different points of view. Seriously though, it’s helped me to accept criticism and not to personalise it. As much as we want to dish it out, we must be ‘big enough’ to take it too.”
“Communication is key – and a big part of this is learning to listen to people, showing them that what they have to say matters, and making them feel that they are an important part of the team.”
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“Empowering others is also paramount – none of us will be in our current positions forever, so it’s important to help others develop relevant skills while coaching them to manage challenging situations. This will make it easier when we have to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders.”
Sulayman, meanwhile, is a great inspiration to those around her and reflected on how she is always encouraged by the women she comes across, whether it be on the rugby field or in the boardroom.
“I am always inspired by the Moms, Grannies, aunts, and sisters who are tirelessly at sports fields early on a Saturday morning, supporting and cheering on their children along the sidelines.”
“These are the girls and women who prepare the sandwiches for the game on a Saturday, rising early to do it, and who dedicate their time and selves to supporting the entire team too… especially the ones whose parents are not there – and there are always those, sadly.”
“I’m inspired by Moms who, week in and week out, soak those shorts for hours first, and hand wash them so that their child will have a bright, clean kit for next week’s match,” says Sulayman. “Such is the toiling of these inspirational women! There are many women and girls who work tirelessly ‘behind the scenes’ – in more ways than one – to make our athletes shine at their games, and we really need to celebrate them more.”
South Africa is set to celebrate Youth Day on the 16th of June, and Sulayman, who is also a lecturer, had this message for the youngsters of Mzansi.
“‘Get out of your own way, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!’ — This is my message to our youth. Through democracy, we’ve created opportunities and spaces for our youth to BE! This means they can be whoever they choose to be as long as they persevere with the right attitude. They must dream… and dream big… and follow their dreams with conviction, but, importantly, they must have loads of fun along the way too.”
Main Photo Caption: ‘Winning on the gsport stage was an honour and privilege, but the impact was even greater!’ – Shamila Sulayman won the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022, and discusses just what that recognition means, not just to her, but for all involved. Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Sulayman’s relentless passion saw her appointed as the WP Rugby Vice-President earlier this year. Photo: Supplied
Photo 3 Caption: Sulayman says there is a gross under-representation of women, increasing in leadership positions across sports codes. Photo: Supplied
Photo 4 Caption: A staunch proponent of Volunteering, Sulayman says it has given her many new skills and priceless opportunities. Photo: Supplied
Photo 5 Caption: With June 16 approaching, Sulayman encourages the youth: ’You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!’ Photo: Supplied
