Springboks emerge the big winners at SA Sports Awards

Springboks

Cape Town — The Springboks were the biggest winners on the night at the 17th annual South African Sports Awards that took place at Sun City on Sunday evening.

The award ceremony celebrates the biggest and best sporting achievements by South African teams and athletes over the past year, with notable achievements being the Springboks’ historic 2023 Rugby World Cup win, while the Proteas and Bafana Bafana reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup and AFCON respectively.

Speaking at the awards show, the department of Sport, Arts and Culture said: “South African sportsmen and sportswomen have been pivotal in steering national building and flying the country’s flag high and are worthy of all the praise they received at this year’s sports awards,” The Citizen reported.

As a result of their impressive World Cup win, rugby was undoubtedly the big winners, winning seven awards on the night, IOL reported. The Springboks won the coveted Team of the Year, Jacques Nienaber won Coach of the Year, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) scooped National federation of the Year, Mark Alexander won Administrator of the Year.

Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Manie Libbok won individual awards. Kolisi won two for Sport Star of the Year and People’s Choice of the Year. Etzebeth scooped the prestigious Sportsman of the Year award, while Libbok took home the award for Newcomer of the Year.

Below is the full list of winners, as reported by TimesLIVE:

  • Administrator of the Year: Mark Alexander (SA Rugby Union)
  • Sportsman of the Year: Eben Etzebeth (Springboks)
  • Sportsman of the Year With a Disability: Mpumelelo Mhlongo (South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled)
  • Sportswoman of the Year: Kirsten Neuschäfer (Sailing South Africa)
  • Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability: Simone Kruger (South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled, Para Athletics)
  • Team of the Year: Springboks
  • Newcomer of the Year: Manie Libbok (Springboks)
  • Coach of the Year: Jacques Nienaber (Spingboks)
  • Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Ntsanwisi (Vakhegula Vakhegula)
  • Indigenous Games Team of the Year: Diketo Gauteng
  • National federation of the Year: South African Rugby Union
  • Recreation Body of the Year: Amandla Social Enterpises (WC)
  • Sport Photo of Visual Journalist of the Year: Samuel Shivambu
  • Sport Journalist of the Year: Khanyiso Tshwaku
  • Sport Star of the Year: Siya Kolisi (Springbok captain)
  • People’s Choice of the Year: Siya Kolisi (Springbok captain)
  • School team of the Year: Hoer Lanbouskool Oakdale — Tug of War 560kg junior men’s team
  • Developing School Team of the Year: Hlabi Secondary School — Netball U-19 team
  • Technical Official of the Year: Sean Rapaport (South African Hockey Association)

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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