Bafana and Chiefs skipper Itumeleng Khune arrives with his girlfriend presenter Minnie Dlamini

By Kgatliso Ramose
Rustenburg- South African sportsmen and women were honoured at the glitz and glam South African Sports Awards held at Sun City, outside Rustenburg in the North West province last night.

The red carpet was rolled out for the champions not mediocrity as the Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said.

The awards host was award-winning SuperSport presenter Robert Marawa, alongside Sabc Soccer Zone co-host Minnie Dlamini and Sports @10 presenter Thomas Mlambo.

The big winner was Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune winning the Sport Star of The Year Award which includes a brand new BMW and a whooping R1 Million, which half of it goes to the school he attended. He was nominated amongst Sportswoman of The Year winner Mapaseka Makhanya, swimming sensation Chad le Clos, Hashim Amla and Sportsman of the Year with Disability winner Lucas Sithole in the only category that was voted by the public.

Some of the big winner includes Sportsman of The Year Cameroon Van Der Burgh (Swimming), Coach of The Year Holger Losch (Tennis) and Administrator of The Year Minnie Mthethwa (Nedball).

Other winners includes:
Sports Journalist of The Year- Ramatsile Moholwa

Sport Photographer of The Year- Wessel Oesthuizen
Sportswoman of The Year With Disability- Kgothatso Montjane
Recreation Body of The Year- Discovery 702 Walk The Talk
Federation of The Year- Swimming SA
Indigenous Game Star of The Year- Simphiwe Maphumulo
School Team of The Year- Sol Plaatjie High
Developing School Team of The Year- Dania Primary
Volunteer of The Year- Zakes Mkhize
Newcomer Of the Year- Thato Tshemole

The awards adjudicators were Lebo Mabena, Alpheus Keonyaditse, Malatri Keikabile, Vaylen Kirtley, Wire Zondi, Marissa Langeni, Jimmy Tau, Prof Marion Keem Less, Victor Matfield and the auditor Thando Mbatshe.

However the awards failed to strike the balance between entertainment and honouring the stars, as everybody expected a “humdinger” show, but unfortunately that never came to light.

The opening act of the night by young poet and SA Got Talent winner Botlhale Boikanyo’ splendid performance and raised everyone’s expectation high.
A Hip-Hop Rapper Khuli Chana performed for the first time after he was shot and wounded by the police for mistaken identity last month.

Other performances includes Zahara, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Ntokozo Mbambo, Karren Zoid, Gauteng Choir, Chiano Sky and the show stoppers Mafikizolo- TDN
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Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund says his side will not roll up and die against Spain but will compete.

Igesund was speaking to the media at the end of the national team’s two-hour training session in sweltering heat at the FNB Stadium where South Africa and Spain will meet in an international friendly match scheduled for Tuesday, 19 November 2013.

All the players are in camp for the match, dubbed “The Champions are Coming,” including late call-up Tebogo Langerman who has replaced the injured Tsepo Masilela.

“It is important for players to play such matches, and one thing I can tell you is that we are going to be competitive on the night. There is no bigger test than Spain to gauge ourselves how far we have come. We should not underestimate ourselves because we can keep the ball, we can also knock it around and defend too, that is why I think it is going to be a nice game because both teams play good football. We are going to be prepared and I want to believe both teams will put up a good showing,” said Igesund.

Spain beat Equatorial Guinea 2-1 yesterday (Saturday, 16 November) en route to South Africa.

“You can’t read too much into these results because the teams are trying out players. Many thought we will go out there and beat Swaziland seven or 9-0, but the gap between the so-called big guns and so-called minnows is closing rapidly and there are no more easy games,” added Igesund.

“We will try to entertain but the main objective is to win, and I believe they are also coming here to enjoy themselves and also try to win the game.“

Bafana Bafana players are also confident of the big match coming up, and added that the result is not a foregone conclusion.

“It is a big test for us, we want to see how far we have come as a team and we want to keep progressing, and there is not better way to do that than to play against world champions. We don’t want to sit back the whole match but we will take the game to them and show what we also have because we have exciting attacking players and we want them to express themselves on the night,” said midfielder Dean Furman.

Furman said that the recent results that Bafana Bafana have been getting have put them in good stead ahead of this match.

“We don’t want to see it as daunting, but we are confident in the camp because we come from a good win against Swaziland and a tough draw against Morocco last month so we are really looking forward to the game. We are not afraid of anyone.

“We know they are the world champions and have some of the best players in the world and we will give them the respect they are due, but we are playing at home in front of our fans and we want those fans to see a team they can be proud of. As a player this is the kind of match you want to play where you meet the best in the business and I am confident on the night we will deliver,” added the England-based midfield strongman.

Bafana Bafana will have their last training session on Monday morning (18 November) at 11h00 at the FNB Stadium, and will be followed by a press conference at the same venue.-TDN
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World and European champions, Spain touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday morning, looking relaxed and ready for Tuesday, 19 November 2013’s challenge against Bafana Bafana in an international friendly that has gripped the entire nation.

The world number one team was welcomed by a horde of well-wishers, mostly Spanish citizens based in this country.

Crowd-favourite Alonso was the only super-star who had time to sign autographs as the team was whisked away to their team hotel.

Spain will train at Orlando Stadium this evening while their hosts will train at FNB Stadium.

Both sides will round off their final preparations with training sessions at the match venue on Monday, 18 November 2013.

“If you have not yet bought your ticket, then you might be missing on something special. This is the real deal. The Champions are Here and there is no reason why you can’t be part of this history,” said SAFA President who was at OR Tambo Airport to welcome the superstars.

He again urged fans to purchase their tickets on time.

“Don’t wait until the last minute. Let us support Bafana Bafana in this journey we have started. Spain have brought all their stars and this shows how they take this match seriously.”

The Bafana Bafana versus Spain match kicks off at 21h00.-TDN
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The R4 million Czech fugitive and convicted criminal Radovan Krejcir paid to the alleged killer of sleaze boss Lolly Jackson before he fled South Africa for Cyprus could be the missing link police have been looking for.

An affidavit by the SA Revenue Service (Sars) group executive in charge of enforcement investigations, Johann van Loggerenberg, says Krejcir paid R3.7 million to George Louca, known as George Smith, in a “fake loan”.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

Defiant metal workers’ union Numsa is expected to come under fire at union federation Cosatu’s leadership meeting, which starts tomorrow in Joburg.

There has even been talk about a possible push to expel the union from the federation.

Numsa leaders have been locked in meetings this weekend to prepare for Cosatu’s central executive committee (CEC) indaba.

The union has been a vocal supporter of suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

State attorney’s office used to scare her off Nkandla probe

Security cluster ministers used the state attorney’s office to dissuade Public Protector Thuli Madonsela from investigating the R206 million spent on President Jacob Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla.

Acting state law attorney Tshifhatuwo Tshivhase became a battering ram in the minister’s botched legal tussle with Madonsela this week when he unsuccessfully tried to have her disbarred from the Bar Council of South Africa – even though she is not a member of the legal body.
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Itumeleng Khune won the Sports Star of the Year Award at the SA Sports Awards in Sun City on Sunday night.

The Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana captain was nominated for the Sports Star of the Year award with cricketer Hashim Amla, swimmer Chad Le Clos, wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole and athlete Mapaseka Makhanya.

The award ceremony was an extravagant affair hosted by Robert Marawa, Minnie Dlamini and Thomas Mlambo, and featured a bevy of musical guests.

Khune was also nominated alongside Amla and swimmer Cameron van der Burgh for the Sportsman of the Year, but lost out to van der Burgh in this category.

Kaizer Chiefs were nominated alongside the Springbok rugby side, and the Proteas cricket team for the Team of the Year, which was won by the Proteas, the number one-ranked test side in the world.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also announced that Orlando Pirates would be recognized by the Sports Ministry for their performance in the CAF Champions League, and all 33 players involved were awarded R20,000.00 each.

There were a number of other awards that went to soccer, including:

Kaizer Chiefs’ Chairman Kaizer Motaung was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr Leepile Taunyane, who passed away recently, was posthumously given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mafikeng’s Sol Plaatje Secondary School’s under 14 soccer team , who were the 2013 McDonalds Under 14 School Champions, won School Team of the Year.

Daniye Primary School’s soccer team, the 2013 Danone Champions from Mkhuhlu near Bushbuckridge, won for the Developing Team of the Year.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

After winning the Sports Star of the Year Award at a glitzy SA Sports Awards in Sun City on Sunday night, Itumeleng Khune paid tribute to his two families, the Khune’s and Kaizer Chiefs.

The Bafana Bafana and Chiefs captain said that after he had received such great support during the voting in the Carling Black Label Cup, he believed he stood a chance of winning this award, and was grateful to all those who voted.

Accepting his award, Khune said, “God is great. As I walked onto the stage, you saw me pointing up, that’s my trademark celebration.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za