The North-West University (NWU) has emerged as one of the most represented institutions in the 2026 North West Sports Awards, with nine athletes, three coaches and the NWU Soccer Institute securing nominations across several of the top categories at the event. 

The nominations cap a six-month period in which the university celebrated achievements ranging from Olympic and international athletics success to a historic breakthrough in South African professional football.

Leading the nominations for the university is the NWU Soccer Institute, which has been shortlisted for Team of the Year after earning promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The Eagles won the ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs to secure the first-ever place for the university in South African professional football, marking a milestone for the NWU Soccer Institute and creating a pathway for student-athletes to compete at professional level.

The NWU boasts three coaches that have been nominated as Coach of the Year - Dorita du Toit, Nkululeko Malgas and Shawn Bownes.

The athletics programme at the NWU also features prominently among the finalists. After another successful season on the track, Olympic silver medallist Bradley Nkoana has received nominations in both the Sportsman of the Year and Young Athlete of the Year categories. He also joins Aphelele Sibisi and Andrea Steynberg among the nominees for the Sports Star of the Year award. Andrea is also among the finalists for the Sports Star of the Year and Sports Women of the Year awards following her performances during the review period.

Pole-vaulter Valco van Wyk and hurdler Franco le Roux have also been nominated as Sportsman of the Year, and Sichel Peens and Nicole Barnard are nominees for the Young Athlete of the Year award.

The representation by the NWU extends to para-athletics, where Liezel Gouws has been shortlisted for Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, and Khumo Pitso nominated for the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability award. 

The nominations place the NWU among the leading institutions represented at the provincial awards this year, which recognise sporting excellence achieved between 1 January and 30 June 2026.

Hosted by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation in partnership with the North West Sports Confederation, the awards celebrate a decade of recognising athletes, coaches, teams, administrators and volunteers who have contributed to sport in the province.

The 10th edition of the North West Sports Awards will take place on Saturday, 1 August 2026, at the Sun City Superbowl. The milestone ceremony this year features 18 award categories and will honour outstanding performances, leadership and achievements across the North West sporting landscape. The evening will include the presentation of the coveted Sports Star of the Year award, determined through public voting, as well as the MEC's Special Awards.

Reflecting on the significance of the awards this year, departmental spokesperson Shuping Sebolecwe said the event comes at an important moment for South African sport.

“The 10th edition of the North West Sports Awards takes place at a significant moment in South African history. We celebrate the pivotal role sport continues to play in uniting our diverse people and lifting the pride of our nation, alongside 30 years of the country's Constitution. With the completion of the FIFA World Cup 2026, we have seen how sport has the power to unite people across all colour lines,” he said.

The ceremony will also mark the beginning of Women's Month, with organisers expressing confidence that women athletes will feature strongly among the winners this year.

Public voting for the Sports Star of the Year category closes at 23:00 on 31 July 2026. The public can vote by sending the name of the Sports Star via WhatsApp to 068 055 5868. Voting is unlimited and voters can vote as many times as they can.

NWU nominees at the 2026 North West Sports Awards

• Team of the Year: NWU Soccer Institute 
• Coach of the Year: Dorita du Toit, Nkululeko Malgas and Shawn Bownes
• Sportsman of the Year: Bradley Nkoana, Franco le Roux and Valco van Wyk 
• Young Athlete of the Year: Bradley Nkoana, Nicole Barnard and Sichel Peens 
• Sportswoman of the Year: Andrea Steynberg 
• Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability: Liezel Gouws 
• Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Khumo Pitso
• Sports Star of the Year (public vote): Andrea Steynberg, Aphelele Sibisi and Bradley Nkoana