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SA Sports Star 2012: tough competition

5 October 2012

The nominees for the 2012 South African Sports Awards, to be held at Johannesburg's Sandton Convention Centre on 4 November, were announced on Thursday. There will be 17 categories of competition.

Last year's Sports Star of the Year, Hashim Amla, is once again in the running for the award after a spectacular tour of England during which he became the first South African to score a triple-century in a test match.

He's up against Natalie du Toit, who retired from Paralympic competition after winning three gold medals and one silver in London. Another Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, is also in the running after he became the first double-amputee to compete in athletics at the Olympics.

Chad le Clos

Chad le Clos, who won Olympic gold in the 200 metres butterfly and ended Michael Phelps' unbeaten record of more than a decade in the event, is also up for the award, as is Olympic 800 metres silver medallist Caster Semenya, and Moroka Swallows' striker Siyabonga Nomvete. He played a starring role in reviving the fortunes of the Birds and helped them to finish second in the Premier Soccer League.

Vernon Philander, ranked second to Dale Steyn in the test bowling rankings, is the second cricketer nominated for the main award. He further enhanced his reputation during the Proteas' test series victory over England in England.

The Sports Star of the Year is voted on by the public.

Sportsman of the Year

Amla, Le Clos and Nomvete are also nominated for the Sportsman of the Year Award and will be up against Cameron van der Burgh, who won Olympic gold in the 100 metres breaststroke in a world record of 58.46 seconds.

Semenya will face South African hockey captain Marsha Marescia, Olympic bronze medallist in the K1 500 canoe sprint Bridgitte Hartley and Portia Modise, who scored a wonder goal against Sweden in the Olympics, for the title of Sportswoman of the Year.

Natalie du Toit will be up against Olympic athletes Ilse Hayes, Zandile Nhlapo and Ilse Carstens, and world number 10 in wheelchair tennis, Kgothatso Montjane, for the title of Sportswoman of the year with Disability.

Oscar Pistorius faces fellow athletes Sarnu Fourie and Samkelo Radebe for the men's prize, along with swimmer Charl Bouwer and wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole, the world number six in the quad rankings.

Coach of the Year

Deciding the Coach of the Year title will particularly difficult. The nominees are Gary Kirsten, who guided the Proteas to the number one test ranking in the world; Joseph Mkhonza, who led Banyana Banyana to the Olympic Games for the first time; Graham Hill, the coach of the South African Olympic swimming team; Gordon Igesund, who led Moroka Swallows to second place in the PSL after they narrowly avoided relegation the previous season; and Alistair Coetzee, who coached the Stormers to a first place finish on the Super 15 table.

The Federation of the Year will be decided between Swimming South Africa, after Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh won gold medals at the London Olympics, Rowing South Africa, after the men's lightweight fours crew of Matthew Brittain, Lawrence Ndlovu, John Smith and James Thompson won gold, and the South African Hockey Association, which qualified both men's and women's national teams for London 2012.

The Organisers of the SA Sports Awards have set aside R3.7-million for prizes, with the Sports Stars of the Year set to pocket R1-million, plus a luxury car. That's a ten-fold increase in prize money for the category over last year.

About 1 500 guests are billed to attend the South African Sports Awards on 4 November.

NOMINEES

Sports Star of the Year: Hashim Amla (Cricket); Natalie du Toit (Swimming); Oscar Pistorius (Athletics); Chad le Clos (Swimming); Vernon Philander (Cricket); Siyabonga Nomvete (Soccer); Caster Semenya (Athletics)

Sportsman of the Year: Chad le Clos (Swimming); Cameron van der Burgh (Swimming); Vernon Philander (Cricket); Hashim Amla (Cricket); Siyabonga Nomvete (Football)

Sportswoman of the Year:M Marsha Marescia (Hockey); Caster Semenya (Athletics); Bridgitte Hartley (Canoeing); Chantelle Doddermeade (Judo); Portia Modise (Football)

Coach of the Year: Gary Kirsten (Cricket); Joseph Mkhonza (Football); Alistair Coetzee (Rugby); Graham Hill (Swimming); Gordon Igusend (Football)

Sportswoman of the Year with Disability: Natalie du Toit (Swimming); Kgothatso Montjane (Tennis); Isle Hayes (Athletics); Zandile Nhlapo (Athlete); IIise Carstens (Athlete)

Sportsman of the Year with Disability: Oscar Pistorius (Athletics); Charl Bouwer (Swimming); Samkelo Radebe (Athletics); Lucas Sithole (Wheelchair Tennis); Arno Fourie (Athletics)

Federation of the Year: Swimming South Africa; Rowing South Africa and South African Hockey Association

Team of the Year: Rowing (Men's Lightweight Fours); The Proteas and Swimming (London 2012 Olympic Team); Orlando Pirate FC; Banyana Banyana

Administrator of the Year: Dr. Debbie Alexander (Triathlon); Wimpie du Plessis (Rowing); Dr. Kgotso Ncholo (Softball)

Newcomer of the Year: Michelle Webber (Swimming); Richard Murray (Triathlon); Siya Kolisi (Rugby)

Volunteer of the Year: Sondiso Magajana (Judo); Laetitia Goldman (Hockey); Elias Mpende (Boxing)

Developing School Team of the Year: Nkunzimbini Junior Secondary School (Football); Ithembelihle High School (Rugby); Letsetse Intermediate School (Football)

School Team of the Year: Nkunzimbini Junior Secondary School (Football); Eastern Cape Girls School (Rowing); Ithembelihle High School (Rugby)

Indigenous Games Team of the Year: Team KZN (All Disciplines); Eastern Cape Khokho (Khokho); KZN Inqathu (Inqathu)

Journalist of the Year: Velile Mbuli; Lelo Mzaca and David Issacson

Photographer of the Year: Reg Caldecott; Etienne Rothbart and Sydney Seshibedi

Recreation Body of the Year: Age in Action (Wellness); Traditional Horse Racing (Equestrian); Vakhegula (Vakhegula Football)

SAinfo reporter