Last year the former Springbok Frans Steyn was crowned Sportsman of the Year.
The two-time Rugby World Cup champion followed in the footsteps of many renowned sporting greats who are on the prestigious list of the Free State Sport Stars winners. Steyn was also the Sport Star of the Year in 2022.
The best sportsmen in the province will again be honoured at the annual event, presented by Central24 and the University of the Free State. Standard Bank is the main sponsor of the event.
Top achievers are honoured for their international accomplishments from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. For
Nominees for Sportsman of the Year 2023 are: , the following men were nominated in 2023
Gerald Coetzee (cricket)
Coetzee made his debut for South Africa in all three formats in 2023. He played his first international test match and T20 when he was with the Knights. The fast bowler made an immediate impact and took nine wickets in only two tests, and five wickets in two ODI games.
He was named International Men’s Newcomer of the Year at the Cricket South Africa Awards for the 2022/’23 season.
Caden Kakora (badminton)
Caden Kakora
Caden Kakora represented South Africa at the All Africa Badminton Championships and helped SA winsecure a bronze medal in the mixed team event in Benoni. In the men’s singles, he reached the round of 16 and in the men’s doubles, the quarter-finals. In 2022 he won medals at the Botswana International (bronze, mixed doubles) and the South Africa International (bronze, men’s doubles). In 2023 Kakora won two medals at the Cameroon International (bronze, men’s doubles; bronze mixed doubles).
Michiel Kruger (blind bowls)
Michiel Kruger
Kruger took part in the International Bowls Association for the Visually Impaired World Championships in Australia. He won a doubles silver medal for South Africa with his teammate, Tracy Smith, from Gauteng. He also won two silver medals at the South African Championships for the Visually Impaired – in the singles and doubles (with Smith).
Juan Maree (archery)
Juan Maree
Maree represented South Africa at the World Indoor Academy Archery Championships in England. He won a silver medal in the open category (adult male bowhunter limited) in Kent. He also achieved qualifying scores at the South African National Indoor and Field Archery Association’s local competitions. With these and other qualifying national competitions, Maree qualified for the aforementioned World Indoor Academy Championships above.
Robert Summers (badminton)
Robert Summers
Summers won three medals at the All Africa Badminton Championships. He won medals in men’s singles (bronze), men’s doubles with Jarred Elliott (gold), and as part of the South African team (bronze) in the mixed team event in Benoni. He represented South Africa at the World Student Games in Chengdu. In the men’s doubles, Summers and Elliott lost in the round of 32 and in the men’s singles he lost in the round of 64. Summers and Elliott qualified for their first World Badminton Championships in Copenhagen. They lost in the round of 64 (men’s doubles).
The South African duo were ranked 91st in the world at the time of judging.
