MEC of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Limakatso Mahasa, announced the nominees earlier this week.

The awards cover a total of 14 categories that recognise performances from individuals, teams, and administrators of the Free State Sporting Fraternity for the period 1 September 2018 to 31 July 2019.

Mahasa explained that the awards have been created to recognise and honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field. The categories include Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, Sportswoman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, Team of the Year, as well as Volunteer of the Year, Photographer and Sports Journalist of the Year, among others.

For the Web:

Mahasa further says the awards recognise and honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field. The awards carry various categories which recognise individuals, males, females, people with disabilities, continental participants, federations, and schools.

She also took time to congratulate the nominees, saying they carry the hopes of the sporting fraternity in the province.

Free State Sport Awards nominees are as follows:

1. Sportsman of the Year:

Rabz Maxwane (Rugby)

Guillaume Pelser (Archery)

Jakobus Dawid Barnard (Archery)

2. Administrator of the Year:

Chris Dednam (Badminton)

3. Sportsman of the Year with a Disability:

Danie Breitenbach and Guide Oratile Molale (FSSAPD)

Tankiso Hata (Table Tennis)

4. Sportswoman of the Year:

Karla Pretorius (Netball)

Kesa Molotsane (Athletics)

Johanita Scholtz (Badminton)

5. Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability:

Louzanne Coetzee (FSSAPD)

6. Team of the Year:

FSSAPD Para Cycling Team (FSSAPD)

FS Junior Badminton Team (Badminton)

7. Newcomer of the Year:

Raynard van Tonder (Cricket)

Zendre Smit (Archery)

Megan de Beer (Badminton)

8. Coach of the Year:

Rufus Botha (FSSAPD)

Ziyaad Issa (Table Tennis)

Johan Kleingeld (Badminton)

9. Volunteer of the Year:

Thabiso Sthabi Lehoko (FSSAPD)

Mosoeu Mosoeu (Table Tennis)

10. Indigenous Games Star of the Year:

Gregory Tsoai (Dibeke)

11. Federation of the Year:

FSSAPD

FS Table Tennis Federation

12. Photographer of the Year:

Khothatso Voight Mokone (Mangaung Issue Newspaper)

13. Journalist of the Year:

Khothatso Voight Mokone (Mangaung Issue Newspaper)

14. Developing School Team of the Year:

Kroonstad High School

OFM News/Michael Tlhakudi