BANYANA Banyana star Portia Modise beat off the biggest names in South African sport to win the big-money sports star of the year award at a glittering SA Sport Awards function in Johannesburg last night.

Modise, the first African player to score 100 international goals, scooped the R1-million prize which is determined by public votes.

The prize comes at the perfect time for Modise, who recently told Sowetan that she was so short of cash she would not be able to buy her family Christmas presents.

In the other categories, voted by a panel of judges, Chad le Clos won sportsman of the year, and Boston Marathon king Ernst Van Dyk claimed sportsman of the year award with a disability. Sportswoman of the year award went to cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and para-cyclist Justine Asher won sportswoman of the year with a disability. Bafana Bafana mentor Shakes Mashaba won coach of the year. Team of the year was taken by the national under-19 cricket side and hurdler Gezelle Magerman lifted newcomer of the year.

Among those given lifetime achievement awards were four who died in recent weeks - Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, athlete Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Springbok Tinus Linee and female boxer Phindile Mwelase.

Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula gave his razzmatazz function the thumbs up. "I have never made an excuse for mediocrity," he said.