Last week I ran an article here on All Things Jabu called the Alternative SA Sports Awards. In this article I strictly stayed away from the actual nominees for the SA Sports Awards and focused on those that had performed outstandingly well without getting nominated. Today however, I wanted to look at the actual nominees and group them accordingly. We have the “Good” being the stars that truly deserved the nominations. We have the “Bad”, those that did okay, but could be argued that they shouldn’t have been nominated. And of course we have the “Ugly” the what were you smoking nominations.
The Good
Giulio Zorzi – Newcomer of the Year
Swimming in South Africa right now is dominated by Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, rightfully so. But in 2013 Giulio Zorzi made sure his name is one that South Africans would not quickly forget. His bronze medal at the 2013 World Swimming Championships was outstanding and we can expect a lot more from this newcomer of the year.
Lucas Sithole – Sports star of the year & Sportsman of the Year with a disability
Wheelchair tennis star Lucas Sithole, ranked number two in the quads division in the world, earned his nomination by lifting the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship in July, followed by the US Open title in September. In both victories, he defeated world number one David Wagner. An outstanding professional and also a front-runner for the Laureus Sports Awards in my opinion
Graham Hill – Coach of the Year
Such was the disappointment of the sporting public that Graham didn’t win last year that it was almost inevitable that the brilliant swimming coach would crack the nod. He deservingly did as he was the man behind much of sensations Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh’s success.
The Bad
Ithumeleng Khune – Sportsman of the Year & Sports Star of the Year
I support Kaizer Chiefs, I have never hid that fact. I think Khune did a good job in leading us to the 2013 PSL Title. I also think he didn’t do a great job in leading us to our couches to watch the 2014 World Cup or the 2013 AFCON Final. I don’t think he did anything more than some of those that were omitted.
The Springboks – Team of the Year
We weren’t even the best rugby team in the world this year, we were only second best. We lost at Ellis Park to New Zealand for the first time. We were a greatly improved side, but most improved player never wins player of the year. Not a good call in my view.
Heyneke Meyer – Coach of the Year
See “The Springboks – Team of the Year”
The Ugly
Swimming South Africa – Federation of the Year
So they lost their title sponsor, they practically forced Zandberg into retirement, they could not get a clean pool for the national championships. Their president sits on the board of SASCOC and their nomination for Federation of the Year is surely a slap in the face to federations that have done a good job.
Jurie Roux – Administrator of the Year
The most hotly debated topic in the sporting news over the past year was the Lions and Kings. Rugby in South Africa is constantly finding ways of including weaker teams at the expense of others and we are now looking at the possibility of an expanded Currie Cup that allows the Griquas to re-enter a competition that they were fairly eliminated from. Sounds like top quality administration to me.
Cheryl Roberts – Journalist of the Year
Who is she you ask? Me too! Google her work and you get Mail and Guardian links from 2010. Um. Okay.
Who was your good, bad and ugly of the SA Sports Award Nominations? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook or discuss below.