CIVICS midfielder Heini Isaacks was the big winner at the MTC Namibia Premier League awards on Sunday evening, winning two prizes worth a total of N$60 000.
He received N$30 000 after winning the MTC Player of the Season award and another N$30 000 for winning the Chairman’s Award.
Isaacks was not present at the awards since he is currently attending trials in Turkey, but Civics’ manager Paul Stramis who accepted the awards on his behalf said it was long overdue.’This is a great honour for Civics and for Heini to receive the MTC Player of the Season award. This award is long overdue since Heini has been one of the most consistent and professional players in the league for the past decade,’ he said. The Chairman’s Award is determined by the chairman of the NPL, JJ Doëseb, who said he decided to honour a soccer player for this year’s award. ‘We focussed on soccer players this year and I decided to honour Heini Isaacks for his professionalism and humbleness. I love that boy,’ he said. Isaacks was Civics’ most influential player and helped them finish second on the log, behind champions Black Africa, while he finished joint fifth in the top goal scorer’s competition with seven goals.Isaacks thanked God on his Facebook page later on Sunday evening.’I can only say thank you to the Almighty. Thank you to the ones that put their trust in me and congrats to the ones who were rewarded for their efforts,’ he wrote. The other big winners on the night were Black Africa midfielder Bryan Bantam who beat won N$20 000 for the MTC Player’s Player of the Year; Black Africa technical director Brian Isaacs who won the N$20 000 Coach of the Season award; Rainhold Shikongo who won N$15 000 for the Referee of the Season; and Dawid Shaanika, who won N$10 000 for the Assistant Referee of the Season. Black Africa striker Jerome Louis and Hotspurs striker Richard Kavendjii each received N$30 000 for the Top Goal Scorer of the Season, after both scored 12 goals throughout the 2011/12 season. Black Africa, who won the league title for the second year in a row, received the winner’s cheque of N$1 million, while newly promoted Rundu Chiefs and Tura Magic each received N$50 000.The MTC NPL Awards Ceremony took place at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek and was a glamorous affair that saw musicians like Damara Dik Ding and Miss J performing. The Brave Warriors Class of ’98 was also in attendance as they received a special acknowledgement from the event organisers. Their coach Rusten Mogane gave a short speech thanking the team for their discipline, commitment and dedication, while all the players received a medal from MTC to commemorate their achievements.
