Chery Kimberley backs skateboarding star Boipelo Awuah with Tiggo 4 Pro sponsorship
Kimberley skateboarder Boipelo Awuah has become South Africa’s first skater to receive a car sponsorship, partnering with Chery Kimberley as a brand ambassador. From left: Shuaib Panker (sales executive), Karabo Letsika (sales executive), Boipelo Awuah, Jean Retief (sales manager), and PG Weldhagen (dealer principal).
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA
KIMBERLEY skateboarding sensation Boipelo Awuah has reached a historic milestone after being awarded a brand new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro by Chery Kimberley, marking the first time a skateboarder in South Africa has secured a vehicle sponsorship.
The partnership, which runs for a full year and includes insurance coverage, also sees the 20-year-old Olympian officially named as a Chery Kimberley brand ambassador. For Awuah, the moment is both surreal and deeply humbling.
“I am so excited, I honestly cannot believe it,” she said. “When I was younger, I used to see people get these kinds of opportunities and I thought it was so far off. For it to actually happen today feels unreal, but I am incredibly grateful and excited for what the year has in store.”
Chery Kimberley described the partnership as an effort to unlock access to a rare blend of elite sport, youth culture, global media reach and authentic African excellence. In Awuah, the dealership believes it has found more than an athlete. She is a movement that represents ambition, resilience, youth empowerment and African excellence on the world stage.
Boipelo Awuah sits in her new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro sponsored by Cherry Kimberley.
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA
Awuah is the highest-ranked African female skateboarder in history and one of the most recognisable action sport athletes on the continent. She has represented South Africa and Africa on some of the world’s biggest stages, while remaining firmly rooted in her Kimberley community and youth development initiatives.
Her achievements include an 18th-place finish in women’s street skateboarding at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a fifth-place result at the 2025 Grand Skate Tour in Moscow. She currently holds the status of highest ranked African female skateboarder on the world circuit.
Beyond competition, Awuah is also the founder of 053 Girls Skateboarding NPC, a national youth development platform focused on empowering young girls through skateboarding. Her story and impact have been featured in the DFA, as well as on SuperSport, BBC Sport Africa, Red Bull Media, and several international skateboarding platforms.
The Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Diamond Cup played a crucial role in shaping her career, serving as a launchpad that nurtured her talent from a young age at the Kimberley Skate Plaza. Through access to coaching, competition exposure and sponsor connections, the platform helped pave her path to becoming a two-time Olympian and, ultimately, a partner of Chery Kimberley.
Boipelo is seen celebrating with representatives from local government, Exilite Holdings and her family.
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA
The Tiggo 4 Pro is expected to play a practical and symbolic role in Awuah’s journey over the next year.
“It is definitely going to make it easier for me to get from home to the skatepark or to Virgin Active, wherever I am training,” she explained. “It also gives me exposure in terms of brand visibility. Having such a strong brand behind me feels like it has opened so many doors going forward.”
Being selected as a brand ambassador is something Awuah says she is still processing.
“I honestly cannot believe it,” she said. “Coming from such a small town, things like this seem impossible until you actually make them possible. I believe I am the first skateboarder to get such an opportunity, and that just validates that I am meant to be here and that the work I have put in is showing. It is incredibly motivating.”
Boipelo poses with her new car at the Kimberley Skate Plaza.
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA
Despite her rapid rise, Awuah remains grounded and reflective about the challenges she has faced, particularly around equality in the sport.
“My biggest challenge was getting the same opportunities as the men,” she said. “Skateboarding is in a really good place right now and it is growing in South Africa, with more opportunities coming through. For me, it has been about understanding and having confidence that I deserve to be in this position, regardless of where I come from.”
At just 20 years old, the Chery partnership has only strengthened her sense of purpose.
“This opportunity motivates me even more to push forward and pursue whatever purpose the Lord has for me,” she said. “It does not make sense sometimes, but I am grateful for everything.”
Boipelo Awuah is seen with father David Qhelo and mother Patricia Qhelo.
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA
Her message to the next young girl stepping onto a skateboard for the first time remains simple and sincere.
“Do it because you genuinely love it,” Awuah said. “Create your own space. Skateboarding is a form of expression. The main reason you should do it, is because you enjoy it and you love it.”
With a Tiggo 4 Pro behind her and a growing global platform ahead, Boipelo Awuah continues to prove that world-class excellence can rise from Kimberley and inspire far beyond its borders.