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Durban is the place to be tonight as top achievers will be recognised in the different SA Sport Awards categories.
All eyes will be on the people’s choice of the year award, which pits Percy Tau, Thembi Kgatlana, Siya Kolisi, Gerda Steyn and Bongiwe Msomi against each another.
This is a difficult category to judge as all the finalists deserve to win.
The Boks’ triumph in Japan should see captain Kolisi garner more votes leading to tonight’s event. Had they returned empty-handed, his numbers may well have been affected.
If the joyous atmosphere that has engulfed the country since Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup last weekend is anything to go by, the 28-year-old should have no contest.
However, this will depend on whether those masses at the airport and at the victory parades put their money where the mouths are by casting the votes for him – as only votes will count.
Kolisi faces stiff competition from Proteas captain Msomi, who led South Africa to a fourth-place finish at the Netball World Cup in England in July. Msomi has already scooped KwaZulu-Natal’s sportswoman of the year award. Then there is Kgatlana, who is also vying for the sports star of the year award. The Banyana Banyana striker has been a revelation since she burst on to the international scene with her exploits and pace for the team. The Beijing BG Phoenix striker was instrumental in Banyana’s qualification for their maiden World Cup in France in June. She also scored their first World Cup goal.
The reigning African women’s player of the year already bagged the prestigious GSport award in August.
Last weekend, Steyn showed her quality when she ran an Olympic qualifying time of 2:27:48 at the New York Marathon on Sunday, finishing 11th.
Earlier this year, she won the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons.
Finally, Tau cannot be ruled out of the equation as he is popular with football supporters.
Normally, there is no contest where there’s a footballer on the list, but it is not a foregone conclusion that the Club Brugge forward will take it.
Granted, he has had a superb season so far in Belgium with some great performances in both league and Uefa Champions League matches, but has he done enough to beat his competitors?
- Vote lines close at 9pm
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