Uutoni, Johannes tops in Namibian sport

COMMONWEALTH gold medallist Japhet Uutoni walked away with the Sportsman of the Year award for the second straight year, while long-distance runner Hilaria Johannes scooped the Sportswoman of the Year trophy at the MTC Sports Awards on Friday.

The awards ceremony is organised annually by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and this year’s event was attended by at least 1 000 people. Boxer Uutoni was in impressive form in Australia when he won gold in the bantamweight category despite having both his hands injured.He beat England’s Darren Langley in the final and was the only gold medallist from Namibia.Johannes, currently the best female long-distance runner in the country, had an excellent year with wins locally and internationally.She set three South African records over 10 km, 20 km and 21 km.Archer Francois Marais was voted the Junior Sportsman of the Year after he took gold at the World Archery Championships in New York.He also took gold in the World Field Archery Championships in Australia in June.Tennis player Suzelle Davin picked up the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award, which was closely contested by cyclist Heletje van Staden.Davin was the first Namibian girl to compete at the Junior Wimbledon tournament in the UK and is currently ranked third in Africa.Namibia’s World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan African and Intercontinental champion Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses was crowned as the Sport Achiever of the Year for the second time in a row.Cyclist Lotto Petrus won the Most Improved Sportsperson of the year award with his training-camp stint at the World Cycle Centre, while he was also part of South Africa’s top cycling team Excel.Lotto is one of the youngest but most impressive cyclists in the country.Shooters Friedhelm Sack and Boelie Malherbe won the Team of the Year award after they came fourth at the Commonwealth Games, while Boxing won the Junior Team of the Year award for winning a gold medal at the SADC Zone Six Youth Games.Cycling was a big winner on the night, as the sport picked up the Development Programme of the Year award, while Hella Rust won the Coach of the Year and Siggi Bassingthwaighte the Administrator of the Year awards.Valereis Geldenhuys of gymnastics won the Umpire of the Year award.The guest speaker at the event was Geoff Thompson, the United Kingdom’s former karate world champion, who gave a stirring speech about dedication and the importance of investing in the youth.Boxer Uutoni was in impressive form in Australia when he won gold in the bantamweight category despite having both his hands injured.He beat England’s Darren Langley in the final and was the only gold medallist from Namibia.Johannes, currently the best female long-distance runner in the country, had an excellent year with wins locally and internationally.She set three South African records over 10 km, 20 km and 21 km.Archer Francois Marais was voted the Junior Sportsman of the Year after he took gold at the World Archery Championships in New York.He also took gold in the World Field Archery Championships in Australia in June.Tennis player Suzelle Davin picked up the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award, which was closely contested by cyclist Heletje van Staden.Davin was the first Namibian girl to compete at the Junior Wimbledon tournament in the UK and is currently ranked third in Africa.Namibia’s World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan African and Intercontinental champion Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses was crowned as the Sport Achiever of the Year for the second time in a row.Cyclist Lotto Petrus won the Most Improved Sportsperson of the year award with his training-camp stint at the World Cycle Centre, while he was also part of South Africa’s top cycling team Excel.Lotto is one of the youngest but most impressive cyclists in the country.Shooters Friedhelm Sack and Boelie Malherbe won the Team of the Year award after they came fourth at the Commonwealth Games, while Boxing won the Junior Team of the Year award for winning a gold medal at the SADC Zone Six Youth Games.Cycling was a big winner on the night, as the sport picked up the Development Programme of the Year award, while Hella Rust won the Coach of the Year and Siggi Bassingthwaighte the Administrator of the Year awards.Valereis Geldenhuys of gymnastics won the Umpire of the Year award.The guest speaker at the event was Geoff Thompson, the United Kingdom’s former karate world champion, who gave a stirring speech about dedication and the importance of investing in the youth.