South Africa brought home the Rugby World Cup last year so it was no surprise that rugby coverage featured prominently in this year’s SAB Sports Journalists of the Year Awards, held in Sandton on 8 May. Football also dominated the awards ceremony.
Acclaimed rugby writer Mark Keohane was named Sports Journalist of the Year in the print & Internet category for in-depth and thought-provoking rugby articles and reports which were published by Independent Newspapers.
Honoured alongside him was James Shikwambana as Sports Journalist of the Year in the radio category for programmes broadcast both on Munghana Lonene FM and SABC Sport. These included a history of Orlando Pirates as well as his excellent insight into why the US and people of an African origin dominate world sprinting events.
SuperSport’s Mark Gleeson was voted Sports Journalist of the Year in the television category for his PSL football commentary on SuperSport. Gleeson is regarded as the No 1 authority on African football and has become a world class commentator during his distinguished career. He is on the Fifa panel to Third World countries and trains Fifa officials in media management and liaison.
The full list of winners at the 2007 SAB Sports Journalists of the Year Awards, including sub category winners and merit awards, are:
- Print & Internet Sports Journalist of the Year: Mark Keohane (writing in Independent Newspapers and the IOL website)
- Radio Sports Journalist of the Year: James Shikwambana (Munghana Lonene FM and SABC Sport)
- Television Sports Journalist of the Year: Mark Gleeson (SuperSport)
PRINT AND INTERNET
- Sports Columnist of the Year: Winner Neil Manthorp (www.supersport.co.za)
- Sports Feature Writer of the Year: Winner Mark Keohane (Independent Newspapers and the IOL website)
- Sports Event/Live Match Reporter of the Year: Winner Mark Keohane (Independent Newspapers); merit Mike Greenaway (Independent Newspapers)
- Sports Photographer of the Year: Winner Felix Dlangamandla (Beeld); merit Christiaan Kotze (Rapport)
- Sports Newcomer of the Year: Winner Eduan Roos (Rapport)
RADIO
- Sports Commentator of the Year: Winner Johann Russouw (RSG)
- Sports Programme of the Year: Winner Ettienne Ludick (RSG); merit Bettie Kemp (RSG)
- Sports Presenter of the Year: Winner James Shikwambana (SABC Sport and Munghana Lonene FM)
- Sports News Reporter of the Year: Winner Robert Marawa (Metro FM)
- Sports Insert of the Year: Winner Trevor Cramer (Jacaranda 94.2 FM)
- Sports Newcomer of the Year: No winner. Merit Billy Senaume (SABC Sports)
TELEVISION
- Sports Programme of the Year: Winner Pieter Cilliers (SABC); merit Devon Brough and Peter Prukl (SuperSport)
- Sports Live Outside Broadcast of the Year: Winner Alvin Naicker (SuperSport)
- Sports Commentator of the Year: Winner Mark Gleeson (SuperSport); merit Baba Mthethwa (SABC Sport)
- Sports Presenter/Personality of the Year: Winner Kobus Wiese (SuperSport); merit Carol Manana Sport (SABC)
- Sports News Reporter of the Year: Winner Lindani Mbenze (SABC); Merit Altaaf Kazi (SuperSport)
- Sports Insert of the Year: No winner; merit Kgosi Maruping (eTV)
- Sports Newcomer of the Year: Winners Zeena Isaacs (SABC) and Xola Ntshinga (SuperSport)
MOST MEDIA FRIENDLY SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: cricketer Shaun Pollock
SAB SPORTS WRITERS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: Maseru Koaho
