{"id":47691,"date":"2024-08-02T13:12:26","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T11:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/familiar-faces-at-sports-star-gala-20240802-4\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T12:49:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T10:49:45","slug":"familiar-faces-at-sports-star-gala-20240802-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/familiar-faces-at-sports-star-gala-20240802-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Familiar faces at sports star gala"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It is time to diarise the most important awards ceremony on the Free State sports calendar. The date of the 2024 Free State Sport Stars Awards has been set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This prestigious event, which pays homage to the achievements of the province\u2019s best sportsmen and women, will be hosted on Thursday, 3 October, at Monte Bello outside of Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vanes-Mari du Toit, a former Proteas netball player, will be the host and master of ceremonies for the evening, while the renowned referee Jaco Peyper will be the guest speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peyper (43), who has announced his retirement as a referee from the world rugby stage, says an event like the Free State Sport Stars gala dinner is important because it gives credit where credit is due. However, he adds, the credit not only goes to the sportsmen and women, but also to their coaching and support systems \u2013 working hard behind the scenes and off the field or court they are excelling on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The acknowledgement given through events such as this also forms part of the motivation for sports stars to keep on working hard and aiming for greatness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is also important (to host this event) so that one can realise anew how many fantastic sports stars are reared in central South Africa,\u201d says Peyper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must show the country what a good seedbed this province functions as in developing world-class sportsmen and women. They hail from our schools, universities and sports clubs, day in and day out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peyper is also thrilled to be invited to act as a guest speaker at the event and views this invitation as a tremendous honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7e171843e9ad4d3dac338bc73a3c26de.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"embed image\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This prestigious evening is hosted in cooperation with the University of the Free State\u2019s (UFS) KovsieSport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the event and those in the running to win one of the prestigious awards, keep an eye on Central24\u2019s Free State community newspapers: <span><span id=\"U102149844258qNI\" style=\"font-family:'Utopia Std';font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;\">BloemNews<\/span>, <span id=\"U102149844258Mz\" style=\"font-family:'Utopia Std';font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;\">Express<\/span>, <span id=\"U102149844258NOD\" style=\"font-family:'Utopia Std';font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;\">Vista<\/span>, and <span id=\"U102149844258uNG\" style=\"font-family:'Utopia Std';font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;\">VrystaatKroon<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The evening\u2019s proceedings will start between 18:00 and 18:30. A single ticket will cost R460 per person, whereas buying tickets for a table of ten people will cost R4 600. For more information or to make a booking, call Ainslee Oosthuyen on 074-120-4450 or send an email to ainslee@spottedapple.co.za.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is time to diarise the most important awards ceremony on the Free State sports calendar. The date of the 2024 Free State Sport Stars Awards has been 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