|
Sport24 plonkers and stars
03/06/2008 14:11 - (SA)
Cape Town - It's the end of another month, so after much debate, and head scratching, the Sport24 team have announced their Stars, Plonkers and Pictures for the month of May 2008.
Every month the Sport24 editorial team will announce nominations for a sportsperson or team (people who stole the limelight that month), a plonker (a team or person who has not covered themselves in glory) and a sports photo of the month (the one that makes you go "Ahhh"). Readers are then asked to vote for the person, team and picture that best deserves the award...
So without further ado, then, the May nominations are...
STARS:
Narrowing down the nominations for the May star of the month proved tricky with several candidates returning performances worthy of recognition.
Leading the way was Natalie du Toit who qualified to represent South Africa at the Beijing Olympics. Du Toit, who burst into tears upon realising her dream, will compete in the 10km Open Water swim.
May proved to be a lucrative month for SuperSport United who were crowned PSL champions - and won R10m for their efforts. Gavin Hunt - who was named Coach of the Year - is already busy in the market in an effort to bolster his team for next season.
Graeme Smith was the shining SA light in the inaugural Indian Premier League. The Proteas skipper was a stalwart at the top of the order for his team and eventual winners, the Rajasthan Royals. Although a dodgy hammie robbed him of a spot in the final, with 441 runs in 11 innings' at an average of 49, we believe he's worthy of star status this month.
Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates playmaker, Teko Modise, was voted the PSL Footballer of the Year for his consistency and brilliance throughout the season. Modise walked away with R250 000 for his efforts after receiving the most nominations from the 16 PSL coaches.
Double reason for celebration for Shaun Pollock in May after the recently retired Proteas all-rounder was named to the prestigious and influential MCC World Cricket Committee and was awarded the title of most media friendly sports personality at the annual SAB sportswriters' award function.
PLONKERS:
And in the not so serious plonker category... Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the biggest plonker of them all?
New Bafana coach... same old Benni McCarthy. The talented Blackburn striker opted out of Bafana's crucial four 2010 Soccer World Cup / Afcon qualifiers, giving coach Joel Santana his first headache in charge of the national squad.
The clawless Lions once again secured the wooden spoon in the Super 14, just pipping the Cheetahs to the 'title'. Coach Eugene Eloff has an exuberant bunch of youngsters at his disposal... who simply appear incapable of playing as a team - and for 80 minutes!
What was Dick Muir thinking? In what turned out to be his final match as Sharks coach, Muir opted to tinker with the Sharks' Super 14 semi-final line-up, bringing in Frans Steyn at centre and Epi Taione on the flank. Following their best performance of the entire tournament the week before, the gamble backfired spectacularly.
Robbed! The Free State Cheetahs were left crying foul after being denied a match-winning try in the dying moments of the Vodacom Cup final against the Blue Bulls. A lack of understanding between referee Francois Veldsman and TMO Jenny Bartels resulted in the R1m prize heading for Loftus. SA's manager of referees, Andre Watson, was quick to point out that "had the correct protocol been followed, a try should've been awarded."
Granted he had a fantastic Super 14 season, but what the devil got into Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott in the semi-final in Sydney? Acting like a spoilt brat, the cocky Kockott threw the ball into the face of Waratahs lock Dean Mumm long after the whistle had sounded. Fortunately his childish behaviour didn't cost him team points, but could be a reason behind his exclusion from the Bok squad...
Photos
In a bid to deservedly salute the photographers doing the hard graft on the sidelines. Sport24 have put together a gallery of the "Best of the Best" pictures of the month of April. They're guaranteed to leave you speechless.
Best of the Best pictures
Reader voting
Readers monthly votes will decide the 12 finalists in each category, and it is from those 12 finalists that Sport24 will decide their Star, Plonker and Picture of the Year in December.
To cast your vote, either by SMS or e-mail, head to the Sport24 awards page - Cast your vote.
|
Rugby
