Durban– THEY CAME dressed to the nines to ‘play’.
South African celebrated sports stars were honoured this past Saturday, in Durban at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Center, and what a ball had by all and sundry.
They swapped their sweaty jerseys for bow & ties and evening gowns.
One could not help but smell the scent of French colognes from the likes of Rugby World Cup winning team- captain Siya Kolisi and very humble teammate Makazole Mapimpi, Tatjana Schoenmaker and Bianca Buitendag, amongst others at the 15th South African Sport Awards- ‘Izinja ze Game’.
The Eastern Cape born Mapimpi, (champopo) took home the Sportsman of the Year award.
In his acceptance speech he said:”Thank you so much, thanks to the coaches. This is because of the coaches. Thanks to everyone,” he said.
During press interview he shyly told SLM, that it took him by surprise as he expected the award to be won by other competitors who have put the SA flag on the world map.
Sportswoman of the Year award went to double Olympic swimming star Schoenmaker, who won gold and silver in the 200m and 100m breaststroke at the Tokyo Games last year.
The 24-year-old was one of three recipients of the Shield Of Jove.
Kolisi was named the People’s Choice Sports Star Of The Year, a result of the public vote.
The Boks skipper also accepted the SA Rugby Union for Federation of the Year award on behalf of his federation.
“It’s always awkward getting an individual award when playing a team sport, but thank you to all my coaches and teammates and to all who support me.
Now, to all the men: Let’s talk about gender equality in sport. We (men) get all the money, but the women work has hard as we do. If we don’t speak up about it nothing will change. We (men) must use our platform to speak up for women,” Kolisi told the audience, that had in attendance amongst others Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalalala, minister of sport Nathi Mthethwa and NomaGuGu Simelane- MEC health KZN.
On receiving the National Federation award, the Sharks player said: “We know what rugby has meant for SA and we do our best for the country. We should be proud of the diversity in our team.”
Ndumiso Nyawose won the Sport Administrator of the Year award for the Blind- and said the award means the ‘unfortunate’ would feel important as they also contribute in sport development despite their situation, he told SLM during interview.
“My mandate is, and will be, to encourage other sporting codes to promote disabled sport in their respective communities,” says the bespectacled Nyawose.
Tokyo 2020 Team members Bianca Buitendag and Ntando Mahlangu, were winners of the Shield Of Jove awards, respectively.
Oh yes, I can safely attest in helping with his bow & tie, the City Press news editor Timothy Molobi, who won the Best Journalist of the Year award.
“Your charm worked,” he enthused with a crack of laughter, post the awards ceremony.
All winners:
Sport Administrator of the Year
Ndumiso Njabulo Nyawose
National Federation of the Year
South African Rugby Union
Indigenous Games Team of the Year
KZN
Recreation Body of the Year
Local Surf Lounge Academy
Photographer of the Year
Roger Sedres
Journalist of the Year
Timothy Molobi
Newcomer of the Year
Minè De Klerk
Team of the Year
Springboks
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Pieter du Preez
Volunteer of the Year
Owen Gabaotswe
Coach of the Year
Rassie Erasmus
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability
Anrunè Liebenberg-Weyers
Sportswoman of the Year
Tatjana Schoenmaker
Sportsman of the Year
Makazole Mapimpi
People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year
Siya Kolisi
Sports Star of the Year
Tatjana Schoenmaker
Minister’s Excellence Awards
Akona Makalima
Xolile Letlaka
Batshobinke Sipuka
Michelle Joubert
Victor Manuel DeFreitas Gomes
Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement Award
Ntambi Ravele
Lynette Ferreira
Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe
Dan Setshedi
Norman ‘Pangaman’ Sekapane
Shield Of Jove
Bianca Buitendag
Ntando Mahlangu
Tatjana Schoenmaker
Image SLM ( Boks skipper and RWC winner Siya Kolisi during interview. He won the People’s Choice award at the SASA held on Saturday in Durban).
