Makazole Mapimpi capped his excellent 2019 season by becoming the Sharks’ 2019 Player of the Year at their awards evening on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old wing was also named as the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year.
Mapimpi enjoyed a stellar season, showing his prowess as an attacking wing with exceptional finishing ability. He became the first Springbok player to score a try in a World Cup final when the Springboks defeated England in the Japanese showpiece.
Mapimpi was also a nominee in the Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Year category, alongside Andre Esterhuizen, Daniel du Preez and Lukhanyo Am, with Esterhuizen edging out his teammates to win this award.
Fullback Aphelele Fassi walked away with the Currie Cup Player of the Year title after helping the Sharks to a semi-final finish.
The 20-year-old scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, who played for the Junior Springboks at the U20 World Championship before making his Currie Cup debut, was named as the team’s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Other rising stars were also recognised as No 8 Evan Roos was given the U21 Player of the Year award in his first season as a professional, while lock Lunga Ncube won the U19 Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Ward bagged the Sharks XV Player of the Year and prop Mzamo Majola grabbed the Sharks Ambassador of the Year, given to a player showing considerable humility, teamwork and good ethics.
Full List of Winners:
Sharks U19 Player of the Year
Lunga Ncube
Sharks U21 Player of the Year
Evan Roos
Super Rugby Player of the Year
Andre Esterhuizen
Currie Cup Player of the Year
Aphelele Fassi
Sharks XV Player of the Year
Jeremy Ward
Ambassador Award
Mzamo Majola
Breakthrough Player of the Year
Sanele Nohamba
Fan’s Player of the Year
Makazole Mapimpi
Sharks Players’ Player of the Year
Makazole Mapimpi
Sharks Player of the Year
Makazole Mapimpi
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
