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Johannesburg - Steval Pumas outgoing No 8 Renaldo Bothma cleaned up at the rugby union’s annual awards on Wednesday night, taking home the big prizes on offer.
According to the supersport.com website, Bothma, who has signed for the Cell C Sharks in the coming season was a popular choice after a storming Absa Currie Cup campaign for the Nelspruit based union.
Bothma was crowned as the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup player of the year and the referee’s player of the year.
“What an honour to be rewarded with all the prizes. I can only thank my heavenly father for the talent he gave me, thank my support base in the likes of my parents, fellow players and the whole of Nelspruit community for this year. And yes, thank you to coach Jimmy Stonehouse for believing in me and giving me the opportunities I had. This lead to the great opportunity to play Super Rugby and World Cup in 2015,” Bothma said when receiving his awards.
Vincent Koch, who has since joined DHL Western Province, was another big winner. Not only was he crowned as the Most Promising Forward, but as the Forward of the Year and SupaPuma of the year.
Wilmaure Louw received the prize for the Most Promising Back. Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda surely deserved his prize as the Most Improved player of the Year.
De-Jay Terblanché deserved the title of Most Dedicated Player of the Year while Stefan Watermeyer lead by example on the pitch and scored the most tries for the Currie Cup season (4) and Justin van Staden scored the most points (100).
Watermeyer also received the Best Back of the Year for his Super15 run at the Xerox Golden Lions and for a great Currie Cup season in the Steval Pumas jersey.
The two best defenders of the season were Corné Steenkamp (forward) and Ruwellyn Isbell (back).
Steenkamp was also rewarded with the Players’ Player of the Year trophy. He has since retired and was recently appointed as the new conditioning coach at the Steval Pumas.
2014 Vodacom Player for 2014
Nominated: Renaldo Bothma, Wilmaure Louw
Winner: Renaldo Bothma
Most Promising Forward for 2014
Nominated: Vincent Koch, Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda
Winner: Vincent Koch
Most Promising Back for 2014
Nominated: JW Bell, Wilmaure Louw
Winner: Wilmaure Louw
Most improved player in 2014
Nominated: Justin van Staden, Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda
Winner: Lubabalo Mtyanda
Most tries in 2014: Stefan Watermeyer (4)
Most points in 2014: Justin van Staden (100)
Most loyal player for 2014
Nominated: De-Jay Terblanche, Brian Shabangu
Winner: DeJay Terblanché
2014 Best defender: Forward
Nominated: Renaldo Bothma, Corné Steenkamp
Winner: Corné Steenkamp
2014 Best Defender: Back
Nominated: Ruwellyn Isbell, Stefan Watermeyer, JW Bell
Winner: Ruwellyn Isbell
2014 Forward of the year
Nominated: Lubabalo Mtyanda, Vincent Koch
Winner: Vincent Koch
2014 Back of the year
Nominated: Justin van Staden, Stefan Watermeyer
Winner: Stefan Watermeyer
2014 Players Player of the year
Nominated: Corné Steenkamp, Renaldo Bothma
Winner: Corné Steenkamp
SupaPuma of the year
Nominated: Faf de Klerk, Corné Fourie, Renaldo Bothma, Vincent Koch
Winner: Vincent Koch
2014 Currie Cup Player of the year
Nominated: Renaldo Bothma, Vincent Koch
Winner: Renaldo Botha
2014 Steval Puma Player of the year
Nominated: Vincent Koch, Renaldo Bothma
Winner: Renaldo Bothma
