The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Mntomuhle Khawula, has officially presented the list of winners for this year’s KZN Sports Awards.
The summary list of the standouts in different sports last year was revealed at a ceremony held at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, Durban, on Tuesday afternoon.
There are a total of 18 races, including the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, where the winners will be driven in luxury cars sponsored by the sports goods company, Joma Sports.
The winners will be announced at an event to be held at the Nkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban, on April 18.
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges, apart from the KZN Sports Personality of the Year, where the public can vote for their favorite sports star from the five nominees.
Athlete Zakithi Nene, cricketer Nonkululeko Mlaba who runs for Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the national team, Lamontville Golden Arrows player Siyanda Ndlovu, netballer who plays for Kingdom Stars and the national team, Thulisile Maduna and Mhlengi Gwala who do Triathlon (a combination of running, swimming and cycling) have been nominated.
List of nominees for the KZN Sports Awards
Administrator of the Year: Gugu Ngema (Netball), Heinrich Strydom (Cricket), Precious Nzimande (Sailing).
Coach of the Year: Ahmed Amla (Cricket), Owami Zuma (Sailing), Precious Mthembu (Netball).
Federation of the Year: KZN Cricket Union, KZN Inland Cricket Union, KZN Netball.
Junior Sportsman of the Year: Connor Doig (Tennis), Keegan Vogt (Canoeing), Ryan Viviers (Triathlon).
Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Mbali Diphoko (Netball), Nobubele Zwane (Cricket), Okuhle Sithole (Football).
Newcomer of the Year: Ethan Hooker (Rugby), Mbali Diphoko (Netball), Sibongakonke Makhaza (Athletics).
Recreation Body of the Year: Durban Africa Sports Club (Multi-coded), Fish Eagles (Swimming), Made for More (Surfing).
Sport Journalist of the Year: Robin Duke Madlala (Sportswire), Samkelo Gambushe (Gagasi), Tracy Makhanya (Intokozo FM).
Sportsman of the Year: Hamish Lovemore (Canoeing), Keshav Maharaj (Cricket), Zakithi Nene (Athletics).
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Aaron Putz (Swimming), David Watts (Golf), Mhlengi Gwala (Triathlon).
Sportswoman of the Year: Nokululeko Mlaba (Cricket), Nozipho Ntshangase (Netball), Saskia Hockly (Canoeing).
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability: Alani Ferreira (Swimming), Melisca Everson (Swimming), Sthabile Mnyandu (Table Tennis).
Team of the Year: Ezemvelo Women’s Football Club (Football), Kingdom Stars (Netball), Mothee Ram Tuskers (Cricket).
Technical Official of the Year: Caleb Hibbert (Rugby), Eugene Nkosinathi Mdluli (Football), Lubalu ‘Babs’ Gcuma (Cricket).
Visual Journalist of the Year: Gerhard Duraan (Backpage Media), Sandile Ndlovu (Freelancer), Thulisile Dlamini (Caxton Media).
Volunteer of the Year: Banele Magadla (Boxing), Keelan Govender (Sailing), Sandile Lukhele (Cricket).
Youth/Junior Team of the Year: Dolphins U15 Girls Team (Cricket), KZN Football U15 (Football), KZN Volleyball Junior Team (Volleyball).
Sports Personality of the Year: Zakithi Nene (Athletics), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Cricket), Siyanda Ndlovu (Football), Mhlengi Gwala (Triathlon), Thulisile Maduna (Netball).