The heroics of Mbuti Mollo of Namahadi Frankfort, at this year’s Comrades Marathon got recognized at the Free State Sport Awards held this weekend. The awards are aimed at celebrating the extraordinary contribution that sport makes to the development of the province and our society. Mollo achieved position 3 at the 2026 Comrades Marathon Men Division.
Through this recognition the Free State Sport Awards celebrate excellence, commitment, sacrifice, discipline, perseverance and, above all, the courage to dream and to pursue those dreams despite the obstacles along the way.
The Sport Awards are a stage for showcasing the sporting talent that the Free State possesses. The past year has once again demonstrated this fact, as our athletes and teams participated at various levels of competition and brought home medals and achievements that made our province proud.
Winners of the 2026 Free State Sport Awards are as follows:
1. Sport Administrator of the year-Hende-Mari Strydom
2. Sportsman of the year-Erich Visser (Rugby)
3. Sportsman of the year with a disability-Elih Lawrence (Aquatics)
4. Sportswoman of the year-Johanita Scholtz (Badminton)
5. Sportswoman of the year with a disability-Louzanne Coetzee and Guides
6. Team of the year-Senior Badminton Team (Badminton)
7. Newcomer of the year-WJ Kruger (Modern Pentathlon)
8. Coach of the year-Marco Markgraff (Aquatics)
9. Volunteer of the year-Pule Maile
10. Indigenous Games Team of the year-Harmonious Kgathi Team
11. Provincial Federation of the year-Free State Modern Pentathlon
12. Recreation body of the year-BMG Oldies Luncheon Club
13. Photographer of the year-Hannes Naude
14. Journalist of the year-Lebohang Pharoe (Phuthuloha TV)
15. School team of the year-Ntateleng Primary School (Baseball)
16. Technical Official of the year-Ernesta Strydom
17. MEC’s Excellence award-Teboho Mokoena (Football)
-Mbuthi Mollo (Athletics)
18. MEC’s Lifetime Achiever award-Tannie Ans (Athletics)
-Mamosina Sinki Leshabane (Football)
19. MEC’s Posthumous award-Sensei James Vermaak
-Clive Solomon (Football)
20. Sports Star of the year-Erich Visser (Rugby)
