Bester named best footballer

ELEVEN Arrows midfielder Rudolf Bester was named as the Player of the Season when Namibia’s football mother body held its annual awards on Saturday.

Bester, who turned 24 on Thursday, received the perfect birthday gift in the form of N$15 000 for his efforts during the past season. Bester will this week depart for Botswana with the national team where he is expected to play a crucial role when they meet Botswana in a crucial Cosafa Castle Cup encounter.Bester has been instrumental in the success of Arrows at the coast and was the only player from that club to represent his country until the inclusion of teammate Chris Katjiukua earlier this month.The night also belonged to triple league champions Civics when they were officially given their cheque of half-a-million Namibia dollars as winners for the past season, while their coach Helmuth Scharnowski and team manager Paul Stramis were also honoured.Scharnowski was named Coach of the Season, while Stramis took the Team Manager of the Season award.The team also received the Team of the Season award.Civics also saw their top striker William Chilufya walking away with the Top Goalscorer award, after he managed to bury 17 goals in 22 matches last season.Scharnowski said he would divide the N$10 000 among the children or families of three former Civics players – Pekara Kaaheke, Richard ‘Pablo’ Vendura and Lucas Orr – while a quarter of the money would be donated to the Gobabis Old Age Home.Kaaheke and Orr were murdered in Windhoek while Vendura lost his life in a car accident.The President’s Special Contribution award was given to Namibia Sport Commission Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane in appreciation of his role as coach in helping Namibia qualify for the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso.National Referee Instructor Edwardth Boy-Boy Ndjadila also received an award as Administrator of the Season while Angola-based Meraai Swartbooi claimed the International Player Award.The NFA President’s League Award was scooped by the Omusati Region.In other awards, Black Africa’s Jerome Louis was awarded the Premier League Young Player of the Season prize while Alex Tiyeho received Referee of the Season award.National team mascot Robbie Savage was once again named Supporter of the Season and interestingly made his way to the podium even before his name was announced.Struggling to contain his emotions, a tearful Savage said he had not expected the prize but he nevertheless remained unbeaten as football’s biggest supporter.The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) scooped virtually all the awards in the electronic media, with other winners being the Republikein newspaper and One Africa Television.Bester will this week depart for Botswana with the national team where he is expected to play a crucial role when they meet Botswana in a crucial Cosafa Castle Cup encounter.Bester has been instrumental in the success of Arrows at the coast and was the only player from that club to represent his country until the inclusion of teammate Chris Katjiukua earlier this month.The night also belonged to triple league champions Civics when they were officially given their cheque of half-a-million Namibia dollars as winners for the past season, while their coach Helmuth Scharnowski and team manager Paul Stramis were also honoured.Scharnowski was named Coach of the Season, while Stramis took the Team Manager of the Season award.The team also received the Team of the Season award.Civics also saw their top striker William Chilufya walking away with the Top Goalscorer award, after he managed to bury 17 goals in 22 matches last season.Scharnowski said he would divide the N$10 000 among the children or families of three former Civics players – Pekara Kaaheke, Richard ‘Pablo’ Vendura and Lucas Orr – while a quarter of the money would be donated to the Gobabis Old Age Home.Kaaheke and Orr were murdered in Windhoek while Vendura lost his life in a car accident.The President’s Special Contribution award was given to Namibia Sport Commission Chief Administrator Rusten Mogane in appreciation of his role as coach in helping Namibia qualify for the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso.National Referee Instructor Edwardth Boy-Boy Ndjadila also received an award as Administrator of the Season while Angola-based Meraai Swartbooi claimed the International Player Award.The NFA President’s League Award was scooped by the Omusati Region.In other awards, Black Africa’s Jerome Louis was awarded the Premier League Young Player of the Season prize while Alex Tiyeho received Referee of the Season award.National team mascot Robbie Savage was once again named Supporter of the Season and interestingly made his way to the podium even before his name was announced.Struggling to contain his emotions, a tearful Savage said he had not expected the prize but he nevertheless remained unbeaten as football’s biggest supporter.The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) scooped virtually all the awards in the electronic media, with other winners being the Republikein newspaper and One Africa Television.