Zwide Judo star Siyabulela Mabulu scooped the major honours at this year’s Eastern Cape Premier Sport and Recre ation Achievers Awards when he was crowned the Sport Star and Sportsman of the Year at the Boardwalk on Saturday night.
It was the 19th edition of the Eastern Cape Sports and Recreation Achievers Awards, which rewards the sports men and women who have displayed outstanding sporting achievements over the past year.
Seasoned Daily Dispatch staffer Mesuli Zifo scooped the Journalist of the Year award in the print media category for his continued “excellent reporting” of boxing in a province regarded as the country’s Mecca of of the sport.
Sithembiso Ngqezana won the Presenter of the Year accolade.
Mabulu did not only take the two biggest trophies of the night but he also went home R50000 richer.
The 28-year-old international judo multi medallist said the awards came at a very special time as he was celebrating his son’s birthday.
“I’ve always entered for the awards but never had the chance to win because I was always beaten by professional boxing but as an amateur I deserve this award,” said Mabulu.
“This is a very special day. Today it’s my son’s birthday. I feel so happy and I am looking forward to the Olympic Games in Rio and getting a medal.”
Mabulu, who is ranked number two in Africa in the 66kg division side, said he will be using his prize money to finish paying lobola for his wife.
Mabulu pipped swimmer Kaylene Corbett and tennis player Marshall Marsh to the coveted sports star of the year award.
Mabulu was also named the sportsman of the year.
Corbett and Marsh, both from Nelson Mandela Metro, did not leave empty handed however as Corbett was named sportswoman of the year for her efforts in swimming and Marsh sportsman of the year for persons with disabilities.
Cindy Schwulst and Koos Jacobs, both from East London, were top three finalists in the sportswoman of the year and sportsman of the year for persons with disabilities categories respectively.
But, despite Schwulst’s superb performances in Triathlon and Biathle and Koos’ in wheelchair rugby, they did not crack the final nod from the judges.
The sportswoman of the year for persons with disabilities went to Anelisa Fatman for Intellectually Impaired table tennis.
Amathole/BCM rep John David van der Walt for swimming ended as a top three finalist in the administrator category.
The Indigenous Games Star of the Year went to Siyabonga Grootboom for Drie Stokies, while Amathole representatives Million Tsholoba for Ugqaphu and Bomkazi Gqeba for Intonga finished as runners-up.
The Sportsman of the Year Golden Age was a straight shoot out between three Amathole representatives.
Robert Xavier for his record breaking efforts in athletics saw him claim the award.
Amathole’s Nozukile Somlota was named Sportswoman of the Year Golden Age for her athletics achievements.
Other winners from the Amathole region on the night went to the Border Women’s Rugby team which was named Sport Team of the Year and Ludondolo Junior Secondary School Girls Football Team which was named School Team of the Year.
Other winners: Federation of the Year: EC Amateur Boxing, Sport Team of the Year (with disability): ECSA Intellectually Impaired U15 Cricket Team.
Top honours for EC judo star Mabulu
It was the 19th edition of the Eastern Cape Sports and Recreation Achievers Awards, which rewards the sports men and women who have displayed outstanding sporting achievements over the past year.
Seasoned Daily Dispatch staffer Mesuli Zifo scooped the Journalist of the Year award in the print media category for his continued “excellent reporting” of boxing in a province regarded as the country’s Mecca of of the sport.
Sithembiso Ngqezana won the Presenter of the Year accolade.
Mabulu did not only take the two biggest trophies of the night but he also went home R50000 richer.
The 28-year-old international judo multi medallist said the awards came at a very special time as he was celebrating his son’s birthday.
“I’ve always entered for the awards but never had the chance to win because I was always beaten by professional boxing but as an amateur I deserve this award,” said Mabulu.
“This is a very special day. Today it’s my son’s birthday. I feel so happy and I am looking forward to the Olympic Games in Rio and getting a medal.”
Mabulu, who is ranked number two in Africa in the 66kg division side, said he will be using his prize money to finish paying lobola for his wife.
Mabulu pipped swimmer Kaylene Corbett and tennis player Marshall Marsh to the coveted sports star of the year award.
Mabulu was also named the sportsman of the year.
Corbett and Marsh, both from Nelson Mandela Metro, did not leave empty handed however as Corbett was named sportswoman of the year for her efforts in swimming and Marsh sportsman of the year for persons with disabilities.
Cindy Schwulst and Koos Jacobs, both from East London, were top three finalists in the sportswoman of the year and sportsman of the year for persons with disabilities categories respectively.
But, despite Schwulst’s superb performances in Triathlon and Biathle and Koos’ in wheelchair rugby, they did not crack the final nod from the judges.
The sportswoman of the year for persons with disabilities went to Anelisa Fatman for Intellectually Impaired table tennis.
Amathole/BCM rep John David van der Walt for swimming ended as a top three finalist in the administrator category.
The Indigenous Games Star of the Year went to Siyabonga Grootboom for Drie Stokies, while Amathole representatives Million Tsholoba for Ugqaphu and Bomkazi Gqeba for Intonga finished as runners-up.
The Sportsman of the Year Golden Age was a straight shoot out between three Amathole representatives.
Robert Xavier for his record breaking efforts in athletics saw him claim the award.
Amathole’s Nozukile Somlota was named Sportswoman of the Year Golden Age for her athletics achievements.
Other winners from the Amathole region on the night went to the Border Women’s Rugby team which was named Sport Team of the Year and Ludondolo Junior Secondary School Girls Football Team which was named School Team of the Year.
Other winners: Federation of the Year: EC Amateur Boxing, Sport Team of the Year (with disability): ECSA Intellectually Impaired U15 Cricket Team.
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