Vermeulen, Blitzbokke among nominees for SA Sports Awards

Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen and the Springbok Sevens team were on Wednesday named among the nominees for the annual SA Sports Awards.

Vermeulen, nominated in the category of Sports Star of the Year, is up against wheelchair cyclist Ernst van Dyk, Olympic gold medallist swimmer Chad Le Clos, Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise, long and triple jumper Khotso Mokoena and cricketer AB de Villiers.

The Blitzbokke, who won the Sevens World Series tournaments in Port Elizabeth and Las Vegas last season, would slug it out for Team of the Year against Lawn Bowls and the SA Under-19 cricket team.

Sevens coach Neil Powell was nominated for Coach of the Year alongside Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba and swimming mentor Graham Hill.

In the Sportswoman of the Year category, South African Road and Time Trial champion Ashleigh Moolman Pasio faced competition from javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen and Commonwealth Games wrestling medallist Mpho Madi.

Winners of the various categories would be announced on November 30.

List of nominees:

Sports Star of the Year: Ernst Van Dyk, Chad Le Clos, Portia Modise, Khotso Mokoena, AB De Villiers, Duane Vermeulen

Administrator of the Year: Karen Losch, Daan du Toit, Nokuzola Patience Thamae

Sportsman of the Year: Chad Le Clos, Greg Minnaar, Khotso Mokoena, Cornel Fredericks

Sportsman of the Year with Disability: Lucas Sithole, Ernst Francois Van Dyk, Nicolas Pieter du Preez

Sportswoman of the Year: Sunette Viljoen, Mpho Madi, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio

Sportswoman of the Year with Disability: Justine Asher, Kgothatso Montjane, Adri Visser

Team of the Year: Springbok Sevens, Lawn Bowls, Under-19 Cricket Team

Newcomer of the Year: Wayde van Niekerk, Gezelle Magermann, Revaldo Coetzeer

Coach of the Year: Shakes Mashaba, Graham Hill, Neil Powell

Federation of the Year: Triathlon SA, Rowing SA, Swimming SA