Sharks shine at awards

By Matthew Savides

Rugby was the big winner at the Premier's Sports Awards held at the Inkhosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on Friday night, with five of the 15 awards going to players, coaches or teams.

The Sharks were named Team of the Year for their achievements this season, which include being the first South African team to host a Super 14 final and making it to the semifinals of the Absa Currie Cup.

The team also contributed 11 players to the victorious World Cup-winning Springbok squad - 10 Sharks were part of the squad that won the final against England, as Brendan Botha had to head home due to injury.

The achievements of Percy Montgomery in leading the Springboks to the World Cup did not go unrewarded, as he was named Sportsman of the Year.

Sharks coach Dick Muir was given the Coach of the Year award, and young Sharks utility back Francois Steyn was named Young Sportsman of the Year.

It was not only professional rugby players who were recognised. Potential rugby star Thabani Sangweni was named Athlete of the Year in the Community Achievement Awards category. Sangweni was awarded a Sharks contract two years ago and is a member of the Sharks development team.

The ceremony was attended by about 500 people, and was an opportunity for KwaZulu-Natal to show how far its sons and daughters have come in their respective fields.

KZN Premier S'bu Ndebele said the athletes had toiled when the world had failed and that their success was testament to this.

Gymnast Dominique Mann vaulted her way to victory, nabbing the Sportswoman of Year award for her exploits on the national and international stage. Mann won gold at the 2005 and 2006 national championships and gold at the All Africa Games last year.

A rotating metal globe of the world was situated in the middle of the stage, a symbol that KZN sports stars had performed well - and in some instances had even conquered - on the international stage.

Sports and Recreation MEC Amichand Rajbansi paid tribute to all the administrators for enabling the province to be named the "best performing sporting province in the country" by national Sports Minister, Makhenkhezi Stofile.

He added that the winners were not far ahead of those nominated and said the future of sport in KZN looked bright. Community Achievement Awards:

Coach/administrator of the Year: Wellington Magwaza - Gymnastics

Athlete of the Year: Thabani Sangweni - Rugby

Municipality Achievement Award: Amajuba Municipality

Main Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Parusuramen Govender - Cricket

Posthumous Awards: Super Maharanja Japta - Cricket: Morgan Naidoo - Swimming, Bheki Justice Makhatini - Boxing

Administrator of the Year: Peter Thompson - Aquatics

Technical Official of the Year: Siphesihle Gumede - Volleyball

Coach of the Year: Dick Muir - Rugby

Disabled Sportswoman of the Year: Caroline Zondi - Athletics

Disabled Sportsman of the Year: David Patrick Coates - Swimming

Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Kathryn Meaklim - Swimming, Amanda Dlamini - Soccer

Junior Sportsman of the Year: Francois Steyn - Rugby

Team of the Year: The Sharks

Sportswoman of the Year: Dominique Mann - Gymnastics

Sportsman of the Year: Percy Montgomery - Rugby