Uitenhage athlete Lusapho April stole the show at this year’s Eastern Cape Sport and Recreation Achievers Awards when he scooped the biggest award of the night, the Sports Star of the year at the Boardwalk ICC on Saturday.
April, who is the first man to have won the Hannover Marathon three times, was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year award on the night.
Upon receiving the awards and prize money of R50000, the 34-year-old dedicated the Sports Star Award to his daughter Avuzwa.
The Sportswoman of the Year award was won by boxer Sharodine Fortuin.
Having won both awards in 2014 as well, April said winning them for the second time was very special.
“I feel over the moon to have won these awards once more. I gave the awards a miss in 2015 and 2016 because I did not feel like my results were good enough for me to contest.
“So this time, I went to the Olympics and won the Hannover Marathon three times in the history of the event. I thought that would put me in good standing to contest for these awards.
Minister of Sport and recreation Fikile Mbalula spoke highly of April who is a two-time Two Oceans half marathon winner.
“I am not surprised that Lusapho April won the Sports Star of the year,” Mbalula said.
“April is the diamond of the Eastern Cape and he has done well for this country in terms of long distance running.”
Eastern Cape Arts and Culture MEC Pemmy Majodina applauded the organising of the awards.
“The event was superb and the athletes deserved such an occasion,” Majodina said.
The winners were:
Journalist of the year: Ross Roche (Daily Dispatch)
Presenter of the year: Vuyisa Kulase (Ultra Community Radio)
School of the year: Dale
College (rugby)
Sport team of the year for persons with disability: EC table tennis team
Sport team of the year: Border Women Rugby
Federation of the year: Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation
Sport woman of the year golden age: Nomkoso Tyhulu (athletics)
Sportsmen of the year golden ages: Hendrik Botha (athletics)
Indigenous Games Star of the Year: Zoleka Gwedlisa (intonga)
Technical Official of the year: Shaun George (cricket)
Coach of the year: Kholisile Cengani (boxing)
Administrator of the year: Luxolo Qobishiyane (cricket)
Sportswoman of the year for persons with disability: Rentia Oosthuizen (athletics)
Sportsman of the year for persons with disability: Ndyebo Lamani (judo visually impaired)
Sportswoman of the year: Sharodine Fortuin (boxing)
Sportsman of the year: Lusapho April
Sports Star of the year: Lusapho April
EC ‘diamond’ Lusapho April glitters at awards show
April, who is the first man to have won the Hannover Marathon three times, was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year award on the night.
Upon receiving the awards and prize money of R50000, the 34-year-old dedicated the Sports Star Award to his daughter Avuzwa.
The Sportswoman of the Year award was won by boxer Sharodine Fortuin.
Having won both awards in 2014 as well, April said winning them for the second time was very special.
“I feel over the moon to have won these awards once more. I gave the awards a miss in 2015 and 2016 because I did not feel like my results were good enough for me to contest.
“So this time, I went to the Olympics and won the Hannover Marathon three times in the history of the event. I thought that would put me in good standing to contest for these awards.
Minister of Sport and recreation Fikile Mbalula spoke highly of April who is a two-time Two Oceans half marathon winner.
“I am not surprised that Lusapho April won the Sports Star of the year,” Mbalula said.
“April is the diamond of the Eastern Cape and he has done well for this country in terms of long distance running.”
Eastern Cape Arts and Culture MEC Pemmy Majodina applauded the organising of the awards.
“The event was superb and the athletes deserved such an occasion,” Majodina said.
The winners were:
Journalist of the year: Ross Roche (Daily Dispatch)
Presenter of the year: Vuyisa Kulase (Ultra Community Radio)
School of the year: Dale
College (rugby)
Sport team of the year for persons with disability: EC table tennis team
Sport team of the year: Border Women Rugby
Federation of the year: Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation
Sport woman of the year golden age: Nomkoso Tyhulu (athletics)
Sportsmen of the year golden ages: Hendrik Botha (athletics)
Indigenous Games Star of the Year: Zoleka Gwedlisa (intonga)
Technical Official of the year: Shaun George (cricket)
Coach of the year: Kholisile Cengani (boxing)
Administrator of the year: Luxolo Qobishiyane (cricket)
Sportswoman of the year for persons with disability: Rentia Oosthuizen (athletics)
Sportsman of the year for persons with disability: Ndyebo Lamani (judo visually impaired)
Sportswoman of the year: Sharodine Fortuin (boxing)
Sportsman of the year: Lusapho April
Sports Star of the year: Lusapho April
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