WINDHOEK – Tonight the crème de la crème of the Namibian sports fraternity will be handsomely rewarded for their hard work and achievements when the annual MTC/Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) sports awards take place at the luxurious Windhoek Country Club.
The commendable increases in prize monies for this year’s award winners reflects the NSC’s commitment to substantially reward deserving athletes with the kind of money that equals their achievements and aspirations.
Last year’s Disabled Sports Women of the Year winner, Johanna Benson, is once again in the mix of things as the much adored Para athlete goes shoulder-to-shoulder with new kids on the block and fellow Para athletes Johanna Katjikuru and Anna Kambinda, in a fierce battle for top honours in this year’s Disabled Sports Women of the Year category.
In this year’s Sportsman of the Year category also boast stiff competition amongst its five nominees led by youngster Jonas Junias Jonas, Paulus Moses, Imms Naidjala (all boxing), Dan Craven (cycling) and Stephanus Marais (Archery) as all the contestants acquired remarkable results to meet the required grade, particularly Jonas.
Namibian boxing whizkid, Jonas this year stole international headlines when he scooped the country’s only silver medal at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The young boxing sensation also represented Namibia at this year’s Africa Boxing Zone-4 Championship in South Africa were he also clinched a silver medal. Jonas made his breakthrough when he won a gold medal at last year’s National Boxing Championship in Rundu, to mention but a few of his achievements.
Tight competition can also be expected in various categories such as the Sports Team of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Improved Athlete of the Year category amongst others.
The Nominees list is as follows:
Disabled Junior Sportsman of the Year
Kaurumbua Sutu
Twegathetwa Eino Mushila
Elao Ndahapele Nghiyolwa
Dolfie Kuaima
Disabled Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Lahja Ishitile
Caitlin Botha
Rosa Mandjoro
Disabled Sportsman of the Year
Gideon Nasilowski
Etchegaray Nguluwe
Ruben Soraseb
Disabled Sportswoman of the Year
Johanna Katjikuru
Anna Kambinda
Johanna Benson
Sportswoman of the Year
Daniela Lindemeier (Swimming)
Beanta Viviers (Archery)
Nicole Bierbach (Gymnastics)
Danjele Himmel (Endurance Riding)
Vera Adrian (Cycling)
Sportsman of the Year
Jonas Jonas (Boxing)
Paulus Moses (Boxing)
Immanuel Naidjala (Boxing)
Dan Craven (Cycling)
Stephanus Marais (Archery)
Junior Sportsman of the Year
Tristan de Lange (Cycling)
Lushano Lamprecht (Swimming)
Jean Burger (Triathlon)
Ruan van Staden (Archery)
Reinhardt van Zyl (Gymnastics)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Cassandra Knouwds (Karate)
Lesedi Jacobs (Tennis)
Natascha Rottcher (Waterski)
Jivanka Kruger (Gymnastics)
Zanre Oberholzer (Swimming)
Volunteer of the Year
Dr Vernon Morkel (Rugby)
Mateus Johannes (Athletics)
Pafunisia Josua (Cricket)
Referee of the Year
Oscar Lambert (Rugby)
Britt Adonis (Gymnastics)
Bethold Karumendu (Athletics)
Wynand Louw (Cricket)
Jacky Husselman (Rugby)
Most Improved Sportsperson
Drikus Coetzee (Triathlon)
Lahja Ishitile (Paralympics)
Renaldo Bothma (Rugby)
Jonas Jonas (Boxing)
Sonja Adelaar (Swimming)
Administrator of the Year
Angelika Diekman (Swimming)
Gerrit van Schalkwyk (Cycling)
Jon Ambuga (Cricket)
Sybrand de Beer (Rugby)
Coach of the Year
Michael Hamukwaya (Paralympics)
Jacob Gariseb (Boxing)
Nestor Tobias (Boxing)
Danie Vermuelen (Rugby)
Rangarirai Manyande (Cricket)
Sports Team of the Year
Lawn Bowls (Will Esterhuizen & Douw Calitz)
Cricket (U/19 Cricket Team)
Tennis (Davis Cup Team Tennis)
Rugby (National U/19 Rugby Team)
Rugby (The Welwitchias)
Development Programme of the Year
Cricket (Kwata Cricket Programme)
Cycling (Physically Active Youth)
Tennis (National Tennis Association)
Rugby (Get Into Rugby)
By Otniel Hembapu