DEATHS, records breaking, history, medals haul, qualification for CAF competitions, fight against racism in sport ... the list goes on.
I think this is rather an appropriate way to sum up 2014 as we approach the new year in 12 days. Our sportsmen and women have set their targets for 2015, and they will go all out to attain the goals that they failed to attain this year.
While there are those who can't wait to see the back of 2014, others should wish it lasts long because of their achievements this year.
South Africans were outstanding in football, swimming and athletics, and they deserve a pat on the back for making the country proud. But it should be noted that some of their achievements were overshadowed by the passing on of our sports stars, who all left us in the month of October.
The death on October 26 of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa shocked the world. Some of us are still trying to come to terms with his death. He was a hero during Bafana's qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals billed for Equatorial Guinea.
Meyiwa's death came a day after Phindile Mwelase passed on after she was injured in the ring following her sixth-round stoppage defeat by Liz Butler in Pretoria on October 10.
Mwelase, who turned 31 while still fighting for her life at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria where she was in a coma for 15 days, is the first female professional boxer to die as a result of punishment in the ring.
Again, October proved to be a cursed month as another athlete died. Olympian Mbulaeni Mulaudzi died in a car crash at the age of 34 on October 24, leaving the athletics family and SA sports enthusiasts reeling.
Death also robbed us of another soccer star in Joseph Henyekane, the younger brother of Free State Stars' striker Richard.
Joseph, who played for Black Aces, Lamontville Golden Arrows and BidVest Wits, passed away this week.
But 2014 was good for our football in general. Safa president Danny Jordaan correctly described 2014 as historic after their four national teams - Banyana Banyana, Under-20, Under-17 and Bafana - all qualified for continental competitions. That was a first for the country.
Banyana qualified for the African Women's Championships in Namibia. They, however, narrowly missed out to qualify for the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup.
But one of their own superstars - Portia "Bashin" Modise - made history when she netted her 100th goal at the tournament to become the first female soccer player to reach that milestone in the history of African football. Modise was also voted SA Sports Star of the Year.
Amajita, under Shakes Mashaba, qualified for the CAF Under-20 tournament, while Molefi Ntseki guided Amajimbos to the African U-17 Championships. There were other athletes who hoisted SA flag high elsewhere, and one that quickly comes to mind is celebrated swimmer Chad le Clos.
The 22-year-old again proved his worth in the waters when he won seven medals at the Commonwealth Games in August, which is impressive because that is more than any other South African had managed at a single showgpiece. Le Clos was named International Swimming Federation Swimmer of the Year after the event in Doha.
Jumper Khotso Mokoena also shone, winning medals at different events. He won gold medal in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August.
The 29-year-old added another gold in his collection at the African Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, in the triple jump and went further to win silver in the long jump at the same event.
Mokoena got silver after he broke his own SA record of 17.35m at the IAAF's Continental Cup, also in Morocco.
On the cricket front, AB de Villiers stood head and shoulders above his peers when he won individual accolades for his outstanding performances.
He won the SA Cricketer of the Year award and was also named ICC ODI Player of the Year. De Villiers also became the fastest one-day international batsman to achieve a total of 7000 runs, a feat he achieved in 165 innings. De Villiers and Hashim Amla were outstanding on the first day of the Test series against West Indies in Centurion, Pretoria, on Monday, and it is this rich vein of form that will be required from them at next year's World Cup.
On rugby, the Springbok were not entirely impressive in the year-end tour in Europe where they lost their opening match (29-15) against Ireland.
But they redeemed themselves with an impressive 31-28 win over England in Twickenham in their second match.
They went on to overcome Italy 22-6 in Padova, with coach Heyneke Meyer fielding a largely second-string team.
But Wales beat them 12-6, and that was not a great way to end the year in Europe where they will play the World Cup next year. But I think they will be ready to take on the world's best next year.
Back home, the country hosted an historic Global Watch Summit, as part of a campaign to root out racism in sport.
The summit was attended by a horde sports leaders from around the globe, UN representatives, government officials and other stakeholders. Fifa president Sepp Blatter spoke via a video link.
What a year!
It was the best and worst of times in sports
DEATHS, records breaking, history, medals haul, qualification for CAF competitions, fight against racism in sport ... the list goes on.
I think this is rather an appropriate way to sum up 2014 as we approach the new year in 12 days. Our sportsmen and women have set their targets for 2015, and they will go all out to attain the goals that they failed to attain this year.
While there are those who can't wait to see the back of 2014, others should wish it lasts long because of their achievements this year.
South Africans were outstanding in football, swimming and athletics, and they deserve a pat on the back for making the country proud. But it should be noted that some of their achievements were overshadowed by the passing on of our sports stars, who all left us in the month of October.
The death on October 26 of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa shocked the world. Some of us are still trying to come to terms with his death. He was a hero during Bafana's qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals billed for Equatorial Guinea.
Meyiwa's death came a day after Phindile Mwelase passed on after she was injured in the ring following her sixth-round stoppage defeat by Liz Butler in Pretoria on October 10.
Mwelase, who turned 31 while still fighting for her life at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria where she was in a coma for 15 days, is the first female professional boxer to die as a result of punishment in the ring.
Again, October proved to be a cursed month as another athlete died. Olympian Mbulaeni Mulaudzi died in a car crash at the age of 34 on October 24, leaving the athletics family and SA sports enthusiasts reeling.
Death also robbed us of another soccer star in Joseph Henyekane, the younger brother of Free State Stars' striker Richard.
Joseph, who played for Black Aces, Lamontville Golden Arrows and BidVest Wits, passed away this week.
But 2014 was good for our football in general. Safa president Danny Jordaan correctly described 2014 as historic after their four national teams - Banyana Banyana, Under-20, Under-17 and Bafana - all qualified for continental competitions. That was a first for the country.
Banyana qualified for the African Women's Championships in Namibia. They, however, narrowly missed out to qualify for the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup.
But one of their own superstars - Portia "Bashin" Modise - made history when she netted her 100th goal at the tournament to become the first female soccer player to reach that milestone in the history of African football. Modise was also voted SA Sports Star of the Year.
Amajita, under Shakes Mashaba, qualified for the CAF Under-20 tournament, while Molefi Ntseki guided Amajimbos to the African U-17 Championships. There were other athletes who hoisted SA flag high elsewhere, and one that quickly comes to mind is celebrated swimmer Chad le Clos.
The 22-year-old again proved his worth in the waters when he won seven medals at the Commonwealth Games in August, which is impressive because that is more than any other South African had managed at a single showgpiece. Le Clos was named International Swimming Federation Swimmer of the Year after the event in Doha.
Jumper Khotso Mokoena also shone, winning medals at different events. He won gold medal in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August.
The 29-year-old added another gold in his collection at the African Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, in the triple jump and went further to win silver in the long jump at the same event.
Mokoena got silver after he broke his own SA record of 17.35m at the IAAF's Continental Cup, also in Morocco.
On the cricket front, AB de Villiers stood head and shoulders above his peers when he won individual accolades for his outstanding performances.
He won the SA Cricketer of the Year award and was also named ICC ODI Player of the Year. De Villiers also became the fastest one-day international batsman to achieve a total of 7000 runs, a feat he achieved in 165 innings. De Villiers and Hashim Amla were outstanding on the first day of the Test series against West Indies in Centurion, Pretoria, on Monday, and it is this rich vein of form that will be required from them at next year's World Cup.
On rugby, the Springbok were not entirely impressive in the year-end tour in Europe where they lost their opening match (29-15) against Ireland.
But they redeemed themselves with an impressive 31-28 win over England in Twickenham in their second match.
They went on to overcome Italy 22-6 in Padova, with coach Heyneke Meyer fielding a largely second-string team.
But Wales beat them 12-6, and that was not a great way to end the year in Europe where they will play the World Cup next year. But I think they will be ready to take on the world's best next year.
Back home, the country hosted an historic Global Watch Summit, as part of a campaign to root out racism in sport.
The summit was attended by a horde sports leaders from around the globe, UN representatives, government officials and other stakeholders. Fifa president Sepp Blatter spoke via a video link.
What a year!
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