King Khune snatches Sport Star of the Year title
"GOD is great!"
"GOD is great!"
Those were the opening words of Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs' goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune after he was named Sport Star of the Year at Sun City last night.
Khune walked away with a staggering R1-million and a brand new BMW. He will share half of the money with a charity organisation of his choice.
Khune won ahead of swimmer Chad le Clos; cricketer Hashim Amla, wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole and runner Mapaseka Makhanya.
"God is great and I thank him for this award. I also want to thank the minister [Fikile Mbalula], sponsors and everybody for recognising us," Khune said.
He also thanked all the coaches he had worked under and went on to describe Chiefs as "my second family".
The ceremony was attended by a host of celebrities, athletes and musicians. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former Miss SA and businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, artists Zahara, Mzwakhe Mbuli and Orlando Pirates players were among the guests.
Meanwhile, Makhanya won the Sportswoman of the Year award.
She won Sportswoman of the Year ahead of Lee-Anne Pace and Mandisa Williams.
Makhanya had a fantastic year as she was crowned champion in the 1500m and 5000m at the SA Senior Championships in Stellenbosch.
She was also crowned as overall winner of the Spar Grand Prix Series and won at the Gauteng Marathon.
Cameron van der Burgh emerged victorious in the Sportsman of the Year category. He is Africa's first home-trained world record holder and individual male Olympic champion. Earlier this year he won a gold medal in the men's 50m breaststroke and a silver in the 100m at the Fina World Championships in Barcelona.
The Sportswoman with a Disability and Sportsman with a Disability awards went to Kgothatso Montjane and Sithole.
The Proteas won the Team of the Year, pipping the Springboks and Absa Premiership champions Chiefs. The awards were organised by Mbalula to honour athletes.
"This year has been a great sporting year for our sportsmen and women both locally and internationally," said Mbalula at the function.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners."
Netball SA's president Mimi Mthethwa won the Administrator of the Year award, while tennis player Thato Tsomole was named the Newcomer of the Year. The Coach of the Year accolade went to Holger Losch of Tennis SA.
Other winners were: Volunteer of the Year (Zakes Mkhize of Trialthon SA), Indigenous Games of the Year (Simphiwe Maphumulo, morabaraba), Federation of the Year (Swimming SA), Journalist of the Year (Ramatsiyi Moholoa of Times Media Group), Developing School Team of the Year (Daniye Primary School), School Team of the Year (Sol Plaatjie School) and Recreational Bodies (Discovery 702 Walk The Talk).