South African rugby greats Malcom Marx and Aphiwe Dyantyi dominated the limelight at the 2018’s BrightRock Players Choice Awards on Tuesday evening.
Marx bagged the sought-after flagship Players’ Player of the Year award and also secured the Forward Player of the Year award.
The star-studded event, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, saw professional rugby players honouring their own across six different categories.
A shy and reserved Marx described his two wins as a “massive honour and a privilege,” and expressed his undying gratitude towards those who have supported him throughout his career.
Springbok left-wing Aphiwe Dyantyi also stole the show, bagging the Backline Player of the Year and Love Change award which celebrates the most improved player for the year.
Aphiwe Dyantyi wins his second @BrightRock award for Backline Player of the Year… #PlayersChoiceZA #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/mXmslQofTb
— Paballo Lephaka (@Pabi_Lephaka) December 11, 2018
Outside of the BrightRock Players Choice Awards accolades, Dyantyi has enjoyed great success throughout the year by, among others, being crowned the 2018 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in Monaco in November.
Reflecting on his successes, Dyantyi says he looks forward to working hard and achieving more in 2019.
“You see, not a lot of words come to mouth when I think about it. It has really been a great year with everything that has happened and everyone that is around me … I am looking forward to next year, looking forward to working hard and hopefully, earning my stripes next year as well,” says Dyantyi.
Other winners include Pieter-Steph du Toit for Defender of the Year award and the Best off The Bench award scooped by Zain Davids.
Dayimani gives back to the community
A special award was handed down to another rugby great Hacjivah Dayimani, who won the Fans Choice Award as voted for by staunch rugby fans.
Dayimani received a cash prize of R50 000 which he says will he donate to the Home of Hope for Girls shelter in Berea, Johannesburg, which houses young girls that are victims of rape and sexual abuse.
Dayimani has described himself as a feminist, and says that the cause to help give women and young girls a second chance in life is particularly important to him as he grew up in a household that was female-dominated.
Hacjivah Dayimani wins the @BrightRockZA Fans’ Choice Award. He received a R50000 donation towards a charity of his choice… #PlayersChoiceZA #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/2yhF8TFMv9
— Paballo Lephaka (@Pabi_Lephaka) December 11, 2018
