Johannesburg -
Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Wheelchair Tennis South Africa were the big winners at the South African Sports Awards at Sun City on Sunday night.
Khune, the Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain, was voted by the public as the Sports Star of the Year ahead of swimmer Chad le Clos, cricketer Hashim Amla, wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole and distance runner Mapaseka Makhanya.
“I think all of us sitting in this room are champions, we are all winners,” Khune said after accepting his accolade.
“We all deserve to be walking away with this award, but unfortunately only one can.”
Wheelchair tennis scooped three awards, with Sithole (Sportsman of the Year with a Disability), Kgothatso Montjane (Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability) and Holger Losch (Coach of the Year) all among the winners.
Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh, who was not among the nominees for the most prestigious gong, was named Sportsman of the Year after grabbing two medals at the Fina World Championships. Van der Burgh was up against Khune and Amla for the award.
Makhanya, the national 1 500m and 5 000m champion, was handed the Sportswoman of the Year accolade ahead of golfer Lee-Anne Pace and Springbok women's captain Mandisa Williams.
Meanwhile, in other categories, the Proteas were named Team of the Year, Swimming SA was recognised as the Federation of the Year and Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa was selected as the Administrator of the Year. - Sapa