BAFANA Bafana vice-captain Siphiwe "Shabba" Tshabalala and top swimmer Natalie du Toit are among the big names nominated for the 2010 Gauteng Sports Awards.

The announcement was made by Gauteng sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Lebogang Maile at a gala dinner in Braamfontein last night.

Tshabalala has become a big brand since making history by being the first player to score a goal at the 2010 Fifa World Cup, netting the opener in the 1-all draw with Mexico.

Du Toit has won dozens of medals for South Africa in swimming.

After hundreds of nominations were received from various quarters, including the public, federations and clubs, the nominees were whittled down to 36 - three names for each of the 12 categories.

Maile said they were impressed by the massive interest generated by the awards, which will take place at Emperors Palace on June 23.

"The response has been very encouraging and we see this as an endorsement of this initiative by the people of Gauteng, in particular those involved in sports," he said. "With the department having prioritised seven sporting codes in its programme we call on business to support us and to support other codes."

In the Newcomer of the year category the nominees are rugby players Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies and Bernardo Botha.

The nominees for the Sportswoman of the year are Nomonde Magagula (karate), Michelle Marais (figure skating) and Mignon du Preez (cricket).

Coach of the year: Hein van der Lith (korfball), Nico Coetzee (wrestling) and Nkosinathi Moyo (volleyball).

Sportsman of the year: AB de Villiers (cricket), Gurthro Steenkamp (rugby) and Roland Schoeman (swimming).