Amla named SA Sports Star of the Year

The Proteas' prolific Hashim Amla was SA Sports Star of the year at the annual awards at Sun City on Sunday night.

The newly appointed  vice-captain of the national one-day and Twenty20 teams was recognised ahead of four other nominees for the Sports Star of the Year accolade – Masters golf champion Charl Schwartzel, swimming world record holder Cameron van der Burgh, Springbok sevens flyhalf Cecil Afrika and leading Banyana Banyana goal-scorer Noko Matlou.

Amla, the world's top-ranked ODI batsman, made 1 848 runs in limited overs internationals during the voting period, averaging 63.72, and  1 437 test runs at 65.31, including an unbeaten 253 against India in Nagpur in February 2010.

Van der Burgh was named Sportsman of the Year.

The 23-year-old breaststroke specialist holds the 50m and 100m short course world records, and the 50m long course global mark, picked up medals in both his specialty events at the 2009 World Swimming Championships, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 World Short Course Championships.

Matlou, a former African Women's Player of the Year, steered South Africa to the bronze medal at the African Women's Championships last year to bag the Sportswoman of the Year award.

The Bulls were named Team of the Year, and Frans Ludeke was named Coach of the Year. -- Staff Reporter, SportsCentral