As we enter the month of December, iafrica.com thought it would be appropriate to look back at the sporting year that was in 2008 by making ten awards. Some are serious... others, well, why don't you make your own minds up?!

1. Peter de Villiers Quote of the Year: The man himself on coaching the world champions: "We never said it was going to be a perfect world. If you look at the Bible, Joseph started out in the pit and ended up in the palace. There was a moerse lot of kak in between."

1.1 Peter de Villiers Quote of the Year — Part II: London mayor Boris Johnson stole one straight from Div, when he tried to explain what makes Britain so great ahead of the 2012 Olympics: "Ping pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the 19th century and it was called whiff whaff. Other nations — the French — looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play whiff whaff."

2. Job for Pals Award: Despite earning what most Zimbabwean families would never even see in Zim Dollars, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira jumped the Bafana Bafana ship earlier this year, only to leave his old buddy — and journeyman coach — Joel Santana in charge of Bafana. Most of us kept confusing him with singer Carlos, others did proper research and found that he had 26 different coaching stints at 16 different clubs in 27 years before taking the Bafana job and had never coached a national side until now.

3. Julius Malema Popularity Award: Luke Watson. Erm, do we even need to explain this one?!

4. Bruce Willis Unbreakable Award: Poor ol' World Cup-winning centre Jaque Fourie had a miserable 2008. He had off-season surgery to sort out a groin problem, before an elbow injury saw him miss the Boks' June Tests and their away Tri-Nations Tests. His eventual Bok comeback — against Argentina in early August — lasted just five minutes before he fractured his cheekbone.

5. Job Security Award: To anybody that gets handed the coaching reins at Mamelodi Sundowns. If Patrice Motsepe ain't happy, you're a goner. If you don't believe us, just ask Miguel Gamondi, Neil Tovey, Gordon Igesund and Trott Moloto.

6. Fast and Furious Award: He might have gone wicketless in the second Test against Bangladesh, but Proteas speedster Dale Steyn is still all out pace.

7. Cosmopolitan Fashion Award: To the people (or person) responsible for dressing the South African Olympic team at the opening ceremony. Shocking! Absolutely shocking!

8. The Speed of Light Award: Two athletes captured the imagination of the Olympic world in Beijing this year; Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps. They broke records, they won medals (by the bucketload) and they were just, well, world-class! At least one day we can tell our kids we saw them do it... and we also saw IOC boss Jacques Rogge trying to rain on Bolt's parade for supposed "over the top celebrations". Heck, if we were that quick we'd also act like that — leave him alone!

9. Sorry to See You Go Award: Record-breaking Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery called it a day after SA's 53-8 win over the Wallabies — a fitting farewell for a player who proved himself time and time again, despite not being appreciated by many of his own countrymen.

10. Newcomers of the Year: The Varsity Cup — now if only somebody would get rid of that pesky Vodacom Cup tournament. Beast Mtawarira — few international forwards have made an impact as quickly and impressively as this young man. Luke Burgess — the new Aussie No.9 proved that there is life after George Gregan Down Under. The Indian Premier League (IPL) — a high-class cricket tournament, with some top-class players and big on entertainment, too.

And, finally, some early Christmas presents from iafrica.com...

A Dummies Guide to speaking English: To Joel Santana (Bafana Bafana), Henri Michel (Sundowns) and Julio Cesar Leal (Swallows) — foreigners, with little or limited English-speaking abilities, all of whom are coaching in South Africa.

A new nose: Poor John Smit seems to be making a habit of getting his nose broken, with the great Bok captain telling iafrica.com recently: "Smelly nappies don't affect me; I've had my nose broken so many times in the front row I can't smell a thing!"

A bottle of Jack Daniels: To Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds and Ricky Januarie — all of whom fell foul of the powers that be for unacceptable off-field behaviour this year. (Some even more than others!) Imagine that trio out on the town together?

A credit card: For Chelsea star Didier Drogba after his coin-tossing incident at Burnley fans during his team's Carling Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge in mid-November. Plastic wouldn't hurt as much as small change.

Boxing gloves: For England rugby coach Martin Johnson. The next time that pesky Mr Simmons gives you a hard time after you guys lose (believe us, it will happen again!), put the gloves on... one by one... and then, well, hit him!

A full scholarship to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy: Anybody, really, anybody in South Africa with an ounce of tennis talent... Remember the days of Amanda Coetzer, Marcus Ondruska, Wayne Ferreira?

A time machine: For Proteas coach Mickey Arthur, so he can travel back in time to 1995 and bring back a 22-year-old Shaun Pollock ahead of SA's tour of Australia.

Ryk Neethling and Roeland Schoeman's email addresses: For former SA swimming coach Dirk Lange. How else can he keep in touch with his two former 'pupils'?

A new nickname: As catchy as the nickname 'Dingo' is, New Zealand-born Wallabies coach Robbie Deans would do well to somehow come up with a new nickname for himself next year. 'Dingo' just sounds a bit too evil for our liking...

Another Major: Ernie Els. Remember him? He seems to be heading out of the top 10 rankings... he hasn't won a Major since The Open in 2002 and Trevor Immelman is breathing down his neck for the title as SA's best golfer. Come on the 'Big Easy', show us you're not done yet!

  • What or who did we miss? Leave a comment below and out some of your own awards for 2008!


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