Winners Crowned at SAB Awards

SAB’s Sports Journalist of the Year Award-winning ladies (left to right) are Zeena Isaacs, Carol Manana, Betty Kemp with gsport’s Editor, Kass Naidoo. Picture: gsport

There was much celebration last night as the cream of South Africa’s sports
media gathered for the 28^th SAB Sports Journalist of the Year Awards
in Sandton.

Of particular interest to gsport were the achievements of
three leading female sports journalists who took to the stage to be
acknowledged for their supreme achievements in bringing sport to us.

Betty Kemp from ‘Radio Sonder Grense’ won a merit award in
the category ‘Sports Programme of the Year’. The judges’ citation read: "This
stage and television actress and radio presenter has produced some of the most
beautiful radio documentaries in Afrikaans. Her approach to the legacy of the
tour Toweel family proved to be a pleasant surprise for the judges."

Media all-rounder Zeena Isaacs was a joint winner with
SuperSport’s Xola Ntshinga for the Television Newcomer of the Year, the judges
praising Isaacs for being a passionate ‘sistah’ doing well in a male-dominated
world of rugby. "She is hard-working and dedicated in her coverage of both
rugby and golf, for the national broadcaster."

SABC Sports’ Carol Manana won a Merit Award in the category
‘Sports Presenter/Personality of the Year’. The judges said Carol Manana’s
knowledge of a variety of different sporting codes has seen her become one of
the SABC’s top sports presenters; her love of sport is unquestionable.

It may be a good year for Manana, who also stands a chance
of winning the 2008 Woman in Media category at gsport’s 2008 Awards. Internet
voting for the 1 August affair opens on 1 June.