NASA announces 2026 awards shortlist

The Namibia Sports Commission has announced its shortlist for the 2026 Namibia Annual Sport Awards, with athletes, teams, coaches, officials and administrators recognised across 16 categories ahead of the ceremony on 14 November at Mövenpick Hotel in Windhoek.

In the Sportsman of the Year category, the nominees are boxer Tryagain Ndevelo (silver medallist in the 60 kg lightweight/featherweight division at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow), RCFA mixed martial artist Ryan Roux and discus thrower Ryan Williams (first Namibian since Frank Fredericks in 2002 to win gold at the African Athletics championship).

The Sportswoman of the Year will see a new face after cyclist Vera Looser, consecutive winner from 2023 to 2025, was not nominated as a finalist.

The shortlist features wrestler Ester Abraham (silver medal African Continental Championships in Egypt in April, and silver in beach wrestling), RCFA mixed martial artist Cherné Scheepers and 18-year-old boxer Mischa Monique Araes, the country’s first female boxer at the Commonwealth Games.

The junior categories will feature some of the best upcoming talents in the country. Aldo du Plessis (RCFA martial arts), Roger Surén (mountain biking) and Nathan Chase (triathlon) are nominated for Junior Sportsman of the Year, while Mischa Monique Araes (boxing), Karien du Plessis (RCFA) and Maja Brinkmann (triathlon) are shortlisted for Junior Sportswoman of the Year.

Athletes with disabilities are represented across four categories. Moses Fredricks, Muzuvee Katjivive and Ananias Shikongo are nominated for Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.

The corresponding women's category features Vitjituaije Master, Unondjamo Faith Kaetjavi and Kayla-Lee Ngairo.

The Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability nominees are cyclist Theodor Janse van Vuuren, Quinton Gaeb (Special Olympics, floorball team captain) and archery’s De Villiers Visser. Keila de Oliveira (swimming) and kickboxer Anastasia Ndondi are shortlisted for Junior Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability.

Teams, coaches and development

The Brave Gladiators, trampoline gymnastics team and Unifier Gladiators are nominated for sports team of the year.

Coach of the Year nominees are Eliaser Sonny Amuthenu, Letu Hamhola and Pasile Pedro.

The Umpire/Referee of the Year shortlist features Emily Durand (swimming), Ingo Oosthuizen (RCFA) and Antsino Twanyanyukwa (football).

Development programme of the year will recognises three initiatives: the junior national team development programme of the Namibia Basketball Federation, the K5 Sports indoor and outdoor hockey development programme of the Namibia Hockey Union, and the EmpowerHer programme of the Namibia Rugby Union.

Brave Warriors players Deon Hotto and Peter Shalulile are the nominees for the Professional Shining Star in the Diaspora Award.

Federations and administrators recognised

The Namibia Rugby Union, Namibia Triathlon Federation and Special Olympics Namibia are shortlisted for Federation and Community Impact of the Year.

The Administrator of the Year nominees are Josephina Tulela Fillipus and Susan David of Disability Sport Namibia, alongside Anri Parker, CEO of the Namibia National Olympic Committee.

The Sports Journalist of the Year category features Sport Wrap’s own Brian Munango, New Era’s Limba Mupetami and the NBC pair of Michelle Shapange and Ester Nekwiyu.

Revised framework introduces changes

The commission introduced new categories for Sport Administrator of the Year, Sustainable Sport Initiative, Safe Sport and Third Player.

However, Namibia Sports Commission public relations officer Givean Samulandela said no nominations were received for the Safe Sport and Third Player awards, meaning neither will be presented this year.

He expressed concern over the lack of Safe Sport nominations, emphasising the importance of protecting athletes and prioritising safeguarding.

The commission also merged the former Federation of the Year and Community Inspiration categories to recognise governance alongside community impact.

The lucrative Sport Star of the Year category will be determined by ranking the winners from the individual categories.

Voting for the People's Choice Award of the Year is expected to close on 10 November.

The shortlist will proceed to final adjudication and verification by appointed auditors. Finalist scores will be made available at the commission's head office after the awards ceremony on 14 November 2026.

Numbers

Samulandela said 127 entries were received for this year's awards, compared with 111 in the previous cycle.

The 22nd edition recognises achievements during the qualifying period from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026. The nomination process opened on 16 July and closed on 31 August, with all submissions made through the commission's online portal.

Samulandela said the 2026 awards operate under a revised framework introduced after stakeholder consultations and benchmarking against international best practices. The framework is guided by excellence, fairness, integrity, inclusivity, transparency and accountability.