SA Sports Awards Nominees Announced & Caster Semenya I s Taking Lead

Minister of Sport and Recreation, Ms Thoko Xasa. has announced the names for the 13th SA Sports Awards nominees have been announced. The most anticipated nominees list includes Samuel Sepeng, Kagiso Rabada, Charl du Toit and Caster Semenya. 

In the Sportsman of the Year category is the the four-time Olympic medallist Chad Le Clos, and long jump star Luvo Manyonga. Nominated in the Sportswomen of the Year category is the reigning 800m Olympic and world champion, Caster Semenya, who received the most nominations.

The Team of the Year category features the Sevens Rugby team as well as the 2018 Cosafa Women’s champions Banyana Banyana.

Athletics coach Samuel Sepeng is also up for an award in the Coach of the Year category. The awards are scheduled to take place in November.

The awards carry a total of 19 categories which recognise performances from the individuals, teams and administrators of SA’s sporting fraternity for the period from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018.

Nineteen categories will be contested, including Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, Sportswoman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, and Team of the Year, among others.

Six Paralympic athletes are in contention for the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability and Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability. They are Anruné Liebenberg, Charl du Toit, and Jonathan Ntutu to name a few.

South Africa’s sporting public will also get to be involved, by voting in the People’s Choice of the Year award. The public can vote for their favourite sports star by SMS.

The full list of nominees for the 2018 Sports Awards is:

Sports Administrator of the year: Virginia Mabaso, Wendy May Gila, Mashilo Matsetela
Sportsman of the Year: Chad le Clos, Hekkie Budler, Luvo Manyonga
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Charl du Toit, Pieter du Preez, Jonathan Ntutu
Sportswoman of the Year: Bianca Zoonekynd, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Caster Semenya
Sportswoman of the Year with Disability: Anrune Liebenberg, Melisa Ann O’Niel, Louzzane Coetzee
Team of the Year: Banyana Banyana, Lions Rugby, Sevens Rugby
Newcomer of the Year: Tatjana Schoenmaker, Minke Janse van Rensburg, Luxolo Adam
Coach of the Year: Dr Suzanne Ferreira, Samuel Sepeng, Nico Coetzee
Volunteer of the Year: Linda Hlophe, Mpho Makhoba, Nkosilathi Moyo
Indigenous Games Team of the Year: Ncuva team, Limpopo, Cape Winelands Drie Stokkies, Western Cape, Morabaraba Team, KwaZulu-Natal
National Federation of the Year:  Softball, Roller Sport, Gymnastics
Recreation body of the Year: The Surfer Kids, Mbekweni Community Sport, Mavu Sport Development
Photographer of the Year: Nick Lourens, Reinhardt Hamman, Steve Haag
Sports journalist of the Year: Charles Balyoi, Mohono Motshidisi, Robert Mathye
School team of the Year: St Benedict’s College, Clapham High School, St Andrews High School
Developing school team of the Year: Machakela-Mamodibo Secondary School, Troyville Primary School, Ndabenhle Primary School
The People’s Choice of the Year: Caster Semenya, Chad le Clos, Luvo Manyonga, Zolani Tete, Percy Tau

Sports Star of the Year: Caster Semenya, Kagiso Rabada, Hekkie Budler