Prolific sportsmen and women and astute sports administrators were honoured for their sporting achievements and diligent administration at the 2014 KwaZulu-Natal Sport Awards held on 4 October at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
Photo: KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Senzo Mchunu
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Senzo Mchunu, said the event showcased the wealth of talent in the province.
“As the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, we are proud to host these awards and recognise our sporting heroes and heroines for the exceptional performance both on the field of play and behind the scenes. KwaZulu-Natal is growing in stature to become the sporting destination of choice and this explains our continued desire to host big sporting events. There are plans in place to host big and calendar sporting events in this province in the future,” said Mchunu, to the delight of the audience.
The awards, which are hosted under the auspices of KwaZulu-Natal Sport and Recreation in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Sports Confederation, were hosted for the second consecutive year. They are aimed at recognising sporting idols and administrators who continue to excel in their sport codes and continue to enthral the fans both in KwaZulu-Natal and nationally.
“Our home-grown talent has done us proud over the past 16 months and this is our way of recognising the great contribution they have made in being exemplary ambassadors for the country,” says MEC for Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.
The 2014 KwaZulu-Natal Sport Awards conferred awards to the following sporting heroes and administrators:
Jeremy Campbell – Administrator of the year
Graham Hill – Coach of the year
KZN Aquatics – Federation of the year
Erin Gallagher – Junior sportswoman of the year
Mzwamandla Zondi – Journalist of the year
Sabela Mngoma – Photographer of the year
Tyrone Pillay – Sportsman of the year with disability
Chad le Clos – Sportsman of the year
Andile Phehlukwayo – Junior sportsman of the year
Bridgitte Hartley – Sportswoman of the year
Cornelia Fowler – Sportswoman of the year with disability
The Sharks – Team of the year
Indigenous games council – Recreation body of the year
Tyrone Pillay – Sport Personality of the year
Nhlanhlayethu High School – Developing School team of the Year
Umhlali prep. School – School Team of the Year
The following sporting icons were honoured with these special MEC awards:
Willie Mtolo and Patson Banda (Chief Albert Luthuli Lifetime Achiever)
Shihan Alpheous Sabela and SK Reddy (Posthumous)
Graham Hill and Bongumusa Mthembu (Honour Award)
For more information visit www.kznsportsawards.co.za.