Both men received a prestigious legend award for their lifelong contribution to sports, Mr Koch for athletics administration, and Mr Van den Bergh, for his decades’ long journalistic involvement.

Mr Koch has transformed the popular Loskop marathon into one of South Africa’s top three marathons alongside the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, while Mr Van den Bergh has had a long-running, award-winning, sports writing career, dating back to the apartheid years where his unwavering support for black sportsmen and women, often got him into trouble. The laureates received their awards at a Gatsby themed ceremony fit for legends.

Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC, Thandi Shongwe, says “the department is excited about the Mpumalanga Sport Awards as they are aimed at honouring and celebrating local individuals and teams who put the province on the sporting map”.

“These awards are not only to acknowledge excellence on the sports field, but also aims to inspire and encourage future talent in the province, while recognising and putting a spotlight on those who have excelled making Mpumalanga and our nation shine,” says Lonwabo Daniels, Nedbank Provincial General Manager for Mpumalanga.

This annual event happens in the backdrop of a global pandemic that has had a huge impact on life in general and sporting events were not spared.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying regulations and restrictions, most sporting codes did not perform in the previous year.

This year’s event honoured legends and bestowed posthumous awards to fallen sports stars. Other winners include:

• Athletics – Josiah Thugwane
• Athletics – Sipho Ngomane
• Boxing – Lawrence Ngobeni
• Football – David Nyathi
• Jukskei Veteran – Marietjie Berrange
• Karate – Jan Hendrik Degenaar
• Mountain Climbing – Sibusiso Vilane
• Rugby – Naas Botha
• Gold Panning – Sandra Mthuke
• Boxing Coach – Paul Tshehla
• Football Coach of Coaches – Phiri Ngomane
• Intonga and Rugby Coach – Amos Mgidi
• Athletics Coach – Boikie Gama
• Netball – Carin Strauss
• Rugby Coach – Heyneke Meyer
• Sport Administrator – Nomsa Mahlangu
• Boxing Promoter – Tinus Strydom
• Boxing Technical Official – Thandi Hlophe
• Boxing Technical Official – Esther Mampane
• Football Administrator – Reuben Mahlalela
• Sport Commentator – Sjula Somkhonto Wenzel Mnisi
• Sport Commentator – Elijah Themtha Masombuka
• MEC’s Special Award – Ntando Mahlangu.