Bafana keeper beats local runner to SA Sports Star Award

Goalkeeper and captain of both Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana, Itumeleng Khune beat runner Mapaseka Makhanya from Roodepoort to the Sports Star of the Year Award during a grand SA Sports Awards Ceremony on Sunday 17 November.

Honouring South Africa’s sporting heroes for the night was Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Fikile Mbalula.

Mapaseka was one of five nominees for the big award along with Itumeleng, swimming sensation Chad le Clos, solid Protea batsman Hashim Amla and the never-give-up wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole.

She was also the only female athlete in line for the award. Mapaseka, however, did not leave empty handed though as she won the Sportswoman of the Year award ahead of Lee-Anne Pace (SA professional golfer) and Mandisa Williams (Springbok women’s rugby captain).

Her award most certainly did not come as a surprise as she experienced a fantastic year. She was crowned champion in the 1 500m and 5 000m at the SA Senior Championships in Stellenbosch, crowned overall winner of the Spar Grand Prix series and claimed victory at the Gauteng Marathon, smashing the women’s record by more than six minutes in her marathon debut.

But, there could be only one ultimate favourite among the public with Spider Kid Itumeleng Khune announced SA’s Sport Star of the Year. He walked away with a brand new BMW 1 series and R1 million in prize money, half of which will be shared equally with his charity organisation of choice.

Here is the list of all the winners:

• Administrator of the Year: Mimi Mthwethwa – President Netball South Africa

• Sports Man of the Year: Cameron van der Burgh – Swimming

• Sports Man of the Year with Disability: Lucas Sithole – Wheelchair tennis

• Sports Woman of the Year: Mapaseka Makhanya – Athletics

• Sports Woman of the Year with Disability: Kgothatso Montjane – Wheelchair tennis

• Team of the Year: The Proteas – Cricket

• Newcomer of the Year: Thato Tsomole – Tennis

• Coach of the Year: Holger Losch – Tennis South Africa

• Volunteer of the Year: Zakes Mkhize – Trialthon South Africa

• Indigenous Games of the Year: Simphiwe Maphumulo – Mlabalaba

• Federation of the Year: Swimming SA

• Photographer of the Year: Wessel Oosthuizen

• Journalist of the Year: Ramatsiyi Moholoa

• Developing School Team of the Year: Daniye Primary School

• School Team of the Year: Sol Plaatjie School

• Recreational Bodies: Discovery 702 Walk The Talk

The prize money for the winners is as follows:

• Sports Star of the Year: R1 000 000 and a BMW 1 Series

• Category winners: R130 000

• Runners up: R15 000

• Lifetime Achiever: R100 000

• Excellence Award: R20 000

Meanwhile one lucky voter walked away with a brand new BMW 1 series after the public was invited to vote for their favourite Sports Star of the Year.

For more information and interaction on the Awards you can follow us on twitter via @ SASportsAwards or visit www.sasportsawards.com