Windhoek
It was a night to remember for some of the country’s leading athletes as the curtain came down on the sports year in review.
The 2015 sports calendar was wrapped in fine style with the prestigious Namibia Sports Commission Sports Awards putting the cherry on the cake after a glittering season.
As widely expected, it turned out to be a two-horse race between world champions Paulus “the Rock” Ambunda (boxer) and long-distance runner Ruben Gowaseb, as the pair turned out to be the favourites for the coveted Sports Achiever of the Award.
As if this was not enough, the two athletes were both given the nod by the four-member panel of judges to equally share the revered award on the night.
Ambunda was crowned the overall sportsman of the year following his exploits in the boxing ring that saw him claim the IBO super bantamweight world tile. The Namibian won his second world tile after dispatching Leandro Esperante of Argentina to claim the vacant title.
Dressed in a bright “time to shine” orange suit for the glittering occasion, the evergreen Gowaseb was not to be outdone either and proudly walked away with the sportsman of the year award in the category for athletes with disabilities.
Internationally acclaimed horse ride Michelle Kunzle was deservedly awarded the sportswoman of the year accolade – courtesy of her gold medal at the World Championships in the United States (USA).
Fast as lightning sprinter Johanna Benson took honours in the sportswoman of the year award in the category for athletes with disabilities.
The Namibian football senior team the Brave Warriors were chosen team of the year after winning the annual Cosafa Cup in South Africa in June this year, while emerging striker Peter “Pikes” Shalulile became the proud recipient of the most improved athlete of the year award.
Volleyball won the best development programme of the year award – having taken the game of volleyball to almost all corners of the country with limited resources. Sheefeni “Bra Shef” Nicodemus from The Namibian newspaper came out tops in the golden pen award category for sports scribes.
Other recipients were:
• Disabled Junior Sportsman – Abraham Hafenanje (athletics);
• Disabled Junior Sportswoman – Lahja Ishitile (athletics);
• Junior Sportswoman – Sedi Jacobs (tennis);
• Junior Sportsman – Tristan de Lange (cycling);
• Volunteer – Wessel Kotze (rugby);
• Referee – Johan Oberholzer; and
• Administrator – Gunther Rust (volleyball).
Several sports personalities were honoured with recognition for their contribution to the overall development of sports in the country. The recipients were presented with certificates and jackets with a NSC emblem.
The proud five recipients for the Life Time Achiever Award were John Muinjo, Aupapa Shipanga, Boet Mathews, Carol Garoes and Wolgang Klein.