Call for nominations for Gauteng Sport Awards
This year’s Gauteng Sports Awards will commemorate Gauteng’s 20 years of excellence as the leading sporting province, in keeping with the “20 years of democracy” theme.
The 2014 awards celebration will be held on June 7, in Midrand.
In keeping with the theme, which has seen the nation pause to celebrate the dawn of democracy in South Africa through various activities, this year’s Gauteng Sports Awards will celebrate the province’s contribution towards building South Africa’s social cohesion through sport.
Announcing the launch of the 2014 edition of the awards, MEC for Sports and Recreation Lebogang Maile said it was important that the province celebrate its critical role in realising the freedom we enjoy today as a country.
“Gauteng has hosted a number of important global sporting and cultural events, which have helped to boost social cohesion and unity in this country,” said Maile.
“We, therefore, urge the people of Gauteng to join us at this year’s awards, to celebrate that contribution and recognise their sporting heroes.”
Launched in 2010, the Gauteng Sports Awards recognise and reward the province’s sports stars for their efforts in keeping the passion of sport alive in the hearts of millions of South Africans, through their efforts in local and international sporting events.
To this end, the annual awards honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field.
Gauteng is home to many stadia and sporting grounds that hosted opening and closing ceremonies, kick-offs of international games such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
“It’s moments such as that first goal by Bafana Bafana at the FNB Stadium, in the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, that unified the nation; it’s due to that basis and other similar examples that we say sports start in Gauteng,” added Maile.
While officially announcing the call for nominations, the MEC also took the opportunity to reveal a list of 2014 Gauteng Sports Awards Ambassadors.
The list includes television and radio personality Kwena Moabelo, actress Hlubi Mboya, young golfers Raylyn Anthony and Caleb George, radio personality William Lehong, footballer Lehlohonolo Majoro and television personality Boitumelo Thuso.
Since their launch, the Gauteng Sports Awards have seen tremendous growth.
In fact, in 2013, the number of nominations submitted doubled, from 92 to 190.
Some of last year’s biggest winners include Caster Semenya in the Sportswoman of the Year category and Cameron van der Burgh, who walked away with the coveted Gauteng Sportsman of the Year award.
In the same year, the awards introduced the highly popular Gauteng Sport Fan of the Year award.
To further ease the submission of entries, nominations can also be submitted electronically through https://gsa.wonderforms.co.za/modules/form_builder/published/sportmanoftheyear.php
Categories for the 2014 Gauteng Sports Awards are:
- Sport Personality of the Year
- Sportsman of the Year
- Sportswoman of the Year
- Sports Team of the Year
- Fan of the Year
- Disabled Sportsman of the Year
- Disabled Sportswoman of the Year
- Disabled Sports Team of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Most Promising Sports Personality of the Year
- Technical Official of the Year
- Administrator of the Year
- Sports Journalist of the Year (this includes print media, radio and television)
- Sports Programme of the Year
- Special Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award
For more information contact Nino Zama on 083 473 6725, or at nino.zama@gauteng.gov.za.
