Mixed bag in sports awards

THE annual Namibia Sports awards, which are about a week away, are set to produce a mixed bag of winners, as the country had a quiet year on the international scene.

Some of the codes that generally excel on the international stage did not produce individuals who are normally nominated for the most elite titles – those of sportsman and sportswoman of the year. The awards will be held in Windhoek on October 28.Athletics, which in the past years was dominated by track athletes such as Frank Fredericks and Agnes Samaria and many other junior athletes at the time, has been hitting the low notes lately, as it has only one nomination in all of the 12 awards categories.Athletics only has long-distance runner Hilaria Johannes as a nominee for the sportswoman of the year.Johannes burst to stardom earlier this year with clean sweeps in domestic and international races.Her performance completely overshadowed former favourite Beata Naigambo, who also competed at the Commonwealth Games.Johannes swept aside Naigambo in the Old Mutual Victory Races, the country’s top long- and middle-distance event, while she also won the Soweto Marathon in South Africa and races on the European circuit.The sportswoman of the year category only has four nominees, with Johannes competing against Hannelie Coetzee of endurance riding, cyclist Heletje van Staden and swimmer Danielle van Zijl.The contest here will probably be between Van Staden and Johannes, who have both done their country proud with their individual performances.Van Staden last year lost out on the top title, which was taken by Agnes Samaria, as well as on the junior sportswoman of the year title, which was scooped by Ramona Beukes.The sensational cyclist can regard her participation at the World Mountain Biking Championships, where she ended 18th, as her highlight this year.She also won the South African mountain biking marathon and the SA cross-country championships.Van Staden has also been nominated for the junior sportswoman for 2006 and in that category faces stiff competition from tennis player Suzelle Davin, who this year played at the Junior Wimbledon, despite losing in the first round.Swimmer Jonay Briedenhann will challenge Van Staden and Davin for the junior title, as she has had an impressive year in the pool.The sportsman of the year award will be contested by veteran cyclist Mannie Heymans, boxer Japhet Uutoni, shooter Friedhelm Sack and karate world champion Leonard Martin.Other contenders are Robert Honiball for gymnastics, Alex Ray in swimming and Udo von Schauroth in endurance riding.Uutoni, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games, stands a chance to go all they way to the top, while Sack, who also won bronze at the same event, will be his closest rival.Heymans has not produced his usual fireworks on the cycling scene this year, but his victories in especially South Africa can make him a worthy challenger.The awards will cater for other categories such as the most improved sportsperson, senior and junior sports team as well as the administrator of the year.The best referee and coach will also be recognised, while there will also be an award for the best development programme.Awards will also be handed out to the disabled sport personality of the year and the sports achiever of the year.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) sponsored the awards to the tune of N$100 000 this year, while the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has pumped in N$50 000.First National Bank (FNB) will sponsor media awards for sports journalists, which will be held on October 25.The awards will be held in Windhoek on October 28.Athletics, which in the past years was dominated by track athletes such as Frank Fredericks and Agnes Samaria and many other junior athletes at the time, has been hitting the low notes lately, as it has only one nomination in all of the 12 awards categories.Athletics only has long-distance runner Hilaria Johannes as a nominee for the sportswoman of the year.Johannes burst to stardom earlier this year with clean sweeps in domestic and international races.Her performance completely overshadowed former favourite Beata Naigambo, who also competed at the Commonwealth Games.Johannes swept aside Naigambo in the Old Mutual Victory Races, the country’s top long- and middle-distance event, while she also won the Soweto Marathon in South Africa and races on the European circuit.The sportswoman of the year category only has four nominees, with Johannes competing against Hannelie Coetzee of endurance riding, cyclist Heletje van Staden and swimmer Danielle van Zijl.The contest here will probably be between Van Staden and Johannes, who have both done their country proud with their individual performances.Van Staden last year lost out on the top title, which was taken by Agnes Samaria, as well as on the junior sportswoman of the year title, which was scooped by Ramona Beukes.The sensational cyclist can regard her participation at the World Mountain Biking Championships, where she ended 18th, as her highlight this year.She also won the South African mountain biking marathon and the SA cross-country championships.Van Staden has also been nominated for the junior sportswoman for 2006 and in that category faces stiff competition from tennis player Suzelle Davin, who this year played at the Junior Wimbledon, despite losing in the first round.Swimmer Jonay Briedenhann will challenge Van Staden and Davin for the junior title, as she has had an impressive year in the pool.The sportsman of the year award will be contested by veteran cyclist Mannie Heymans, boxer Japhet Uutoni, shooter Friedhelm Sack and karate world champion Leonard Martin.Other contenders are Robert Honiball for gymnastics, Alex Ray in swimming and Udo von Schauroth in endurance riding.Uutoni, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games, stands a chance to go all they way to the top, while Sack, who also won bronze at the same event, will be his closest rival.Heymans has not produced his usual fireworks on the cycling scene this year, but his victories in especially South Africa can make him a worthy challenger.The awards will cater for other categories such as the most improved sportsperson, senior and junior sports team as well as the administrator of the year.The best referee and coach will also be recognised, while there will also be an award for the best development programme.Awards will also be handed out to the disabled sport personality of the year and the sports achiever of the year.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) sponsored the awards to the tune of N$100 000 this year, while the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has pumped in N$50 000.First National Bank (FNB) will sponsor media awards for sports journalists, which will be held on October 25.