Cream of the Airlink Pumas’ crop awarded

Following another great rugby season of excellent individual and team performances, the Airlink Pumas held their annual awards evening at the Emnotweni Arena on Friday December 8.

The theme for the evening was Western and the players, along with their plus ones, dressed to impress, prancing around in their boots and plaid shirts. Here and there a few Stetsons stole the show!

The sponsors, role players, supporters, the coaching staff and of course, the honorary guests – the Pumas players, enjoyed an evening of festivities together.

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“Firstly, the function is about giving recognition to the players for their hard work. Few people really know how hard they train and how much time they put in. To get to the end of the year and to be able to say thank you to them is the big goal. That’s why such a function is special and that’s why we always put effort into it,” Jimmy Stonehouse, the head coach, said.

The flanker, Kwanda Dimaza, not only walked away with the prestigious Airlink Pumas Currie Cup Pumas Player of the Year Award, but also raked in the Airlink Pumas Currie Cup Players Player of the Year, the Airlink Pumas Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year and the Supa Rugby Trophy (sponsored by André Bester).

“It was once again a very difficult decision to choose the player of the year,” says Stonehouse. “Anyone could get and deserves the award. Kwanda is not only a good team player, but also a good person. He leads the team by example, is always there to help and his error rate on the field is low. The go forward balls, aerial contesting, working from the bases of the scrum, working from kick-offs and receiving the scrum half’s box kick – all these are things he handled incredibly well in every single game.”

Together with his numerous trophies and awards, Westvaal Numbi Ford also sponsored Dimaza with some new wheels. He is the proud new owner of a Ford Puma, a very fitting ride for an Airlink Puma!

Multiple other awards were handed out throughout the evening, praising both the players and personnel for their hard work and dedication. They include:

• Airlink Pumas Currie Cup Backline Player of the Year: Devon Williams
• Prospect Player of the Year (sponsored by André Green): Devon Williams
• 50 matches: Francois Kleinhans
• 100 matches: Devon Williams
• URC player: Deon Slabbert and Devon Williams
• Most tries: Devon Williams
• Most points: Tinus de Beer
• Most improved player: Keegan Schaefer and André Fouché
• Most loyal player: Orateng Koikanyang
• Biggest hit (sponsored by Motswako): Etienne Taljaard
• Best try (sponsored by Airlink): Stefan Coetzee
• Best Ambassador Trophy (sponsored by Sports Unplugged; George Stainton): Adri Labuschagne.