Nominees for Namibia Sports Awards announced

The nominees for the 2017 MTC/ NSC Namibia Sports Awards were announced on Thursday by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC).

The awards are given annually to outstanding athletes in recognition of their achievements throughout the year.

A total of 13 categories will be awarded at Safari Court Hotel and Casino in Windhoek on 27 October. Ananias Shikongo, who won Sportsman with Disability last year, is again nominated this year and said that it's always exciting to be nominated. He said that hard work pays off and that every athlete nominated should be proud of themselves because they are already winners in their own right. Shikongo also added that he wishes to be nominated every year till he retires.



The nominees are as follows:

Sportsman

1. Lesley! Hoaeb - Kickboxing

2. Julius Indongo - Boxing

3. Jean-Paul Burger – Triathlon

Sportswoman

1. Michael Vorster - Cycling

2. Magreth Mengo – Indoor Hockey

3. Helalia Johannes – Athletics

Sportsman with Disability

1. Ananias Shikongo (won last year)

2. Eino Mushila

3.Johannes Nambala (also nominated last year)

Sportswoman with Disability

1. Johanna Benson (won last year)

2. Lahja Ishitile

Junior Sportsman

1. Ivan Danny Geldenhuys - Athletics

2. Delano Muller - Kickboxing

3. Lance Potgieter – Gymnastics

Junior Sportswoman

1. Sade de Sousa - Athletics

2. Charlize van Zyl - Gymnastics

3. Heleni Stergiadis – Swimming

Junior Sportsman with Disability

1. Dian Jansen

2. Kristopher Marungu

3. Mateus Kambundu (also nominated last year)

Junior Sportswoman with Disability

1. Olivia Iyambo

2. Kertu Namutenya Kapweya (also nominated last year)

Sports Team

1. Senior rugby (also nominated last year)

2. Senior women's hockey (also nominated last year)

3. Under-20 rugby

Coach of the year

1. Michael Hamukwaya - Namibia Paralympic Committee

2. Erwin Handura – Field Hockey

3. Nestor Tobias – Boxing

Umpire/Referee of the year

1. Oscar Lambert - Rugby

2.Jackson Pavaza - Football (also nominated last year)

2. Andrew Louw – Cricket

Development Programme

1. Netball Namibia- Coaches and Umpire Development Programme

2. Kids on Bikes Regional Expansion Programme by Namibia Cycling Federation

3. Field Hockey Development Programme

Sports Journalist of the Year

1. Limba Mupetami – Namibian Sun

2. Jesse Jackson Kauraisa – Namibian Sun

3. Otniel Hembapu – New Era

4. Fillephus Sheehama – Radio Energy



In 2016, Paralympic sprinter runner Ananias Shikongo won the Sports Achiever of the Year award as well as Disability Sportsman of the Year award.

Marathon runner Beata Naigambo took home the Sportswoman of the Year trophy; De Wet Moolman was crowned Sportsman of the Year; and Johanna Benson Disability Sportswoman of the Year.

– Additional reporting NAMPA

LIMBA MUPETAMI