The nominees for this year’s Sports Awards have been announced by the Department of Sport and Recreation. This year marks the 10th year of the awards.
The nominees for this year’s Sports Awards have been announced by the Department of Sport and Recreation. This year marks the 10th year of the awards.
“This is a significant milestone and we’re celebrating the best sporting moments of the past 10 years, best moments of the Sport Awards and the best sport people that this country has produced,” said Minister Fikile Mbalula.
The announcement was made at a briefing at the SABC M1 studios on Tuesday 3 November.
“Every year the SA Sport Awards adopts a creative theme which is used to rally support and excitement. We’ve gone with #IZINJAZEGAME… The Best for 2015. The majority of South Africans can identify with this colloquial phrase which, loosely translated, means that you are the top dog, the best at what you do. Our nominees are the best,” said the Minister.
The theme for this year’s awards are under the theme “Excellence is not being your best; it is doing your best”.
The awards will take place on Sunday 22 November 2015. The awards will be broadcast live on SABC 1 at 8pm.
The nominees in Sportsman of the Year are Greg Minaar, Chad Le Clos and Wayde van Niekerk. Nominees in the Sportswoman of the Year are Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Shabnim Ismail and Bridgitte Hartley.
Nominees in the Sportsman of the Year with Disability are Lucas Sithole, Ernst van Dyk and Pieter du Preez.
The nominees for the Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability are Kgothatso Montjane, Ilse Hayes and Peggy De Villiers.
Among other nominees are those in the category of Newcomer of the Year Nokwanda Hlongwane, Jayde Andrew Julius and Kagiso Rabada while the Coach of the Year nominees are Holger Losch, Geoffrey Toyana, Roger Barrow and Graham Hill.
Meanwhile the Federation of the Year nominees are Roller Sport, Cycling and Basketball.
This year’s awards will bring pleasant changes to the most contested category – the Sports Star of the Year. The category will now be nominated and voted for by a panel of sport editors from different media houses.
Each media house will nominate two sport stars and motivate their recommendation, the panel will then vote for the ultimate winner.
The public still gets an opportunity to vote for their favourite sport star by SMS. This category is the People’s Choice Award. The nominees for the 2015 People’s Choice Award are AB De Villiers; Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio; Chad le Clos; Lucas Sithole and Wayde van Niekerk.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Mangaung, Free State.
“The Sport Awards celebrate excellence throughout the country and taking the event to the people is a critical part of our mandate. We are excited and promise the people of Mangaung a celebration,” explained the Minister.
A fan park at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium will ensure that the public participate in the festivities of the awards.
Each category nominee receives R15 000 cash and the winner in each category receives R130 000.
The winner for the Sport Star of the Year receives a luxury vehicle, R500 000 for themselves and R500 000 to donate to a charity of their choice. The People’s Choice Award winner also receives a luxury vehicle, R500 000 for themselves and R500 000 to donate to a charity of their choice.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will be the official broadcaster of the SA Sport Awards.
Group chief executive officer Frans Matlala said: “We are proud that as a public service broadcaster, we will be able to take our viewers and listeners on a journey towards these prestigious awards, which aim to recognise and reward our sporting champions and icons.
Minister Mbalula said the country’s sporting heroes continue to make the nation proud.
“The Sport Awards gives us all an opportunity to pay tribute to those who excel both on and off the field. We’re always inspired by our athletes as they continue to push boundaries and reach new heights of excellence,” said Minister Mbalula.
