Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub
PIET Benade and his Zimbabwe Sables team are set to headline this year’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA), scheduled for March 30 at Cresta Lodge, Msasa.
Benade and his team were among the top stories to emerge from the ANSA nominee unveiling ceremony, which took place at the National Sports Stadium’s VIP lounge yesterday.
Other big names unveiled include Olympians Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, who will battle it out for the Sportsman of the Year award alongside Zimbabwe tennis star Benjamin Lock.
Benade is vying for the Coach of the Year award, while his Zimbabwe Sables team will compete for the Team of the Year award.
Benade will face competition from Elliot Mujaji and Triathlon’s Pamela Fulton in the Coach of the Year category, while the Sables are up against the Zimbabwe Under-25 men’s team and the Lady Chevrons in the Team of the Year category.
However, there was no nomination for the Zimbabwe senior national football team, the Warriors, who qualified for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), scheduled for 21st December to 18th January in Morocco. Their omission was not an oversight, as ANSA Selection Panel chairperson Barry Manandi explained.
“We rightly anticipated that this would be an issue,” said Manandi.
“We did receive nominations from the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), as is standard protocol, but I wish to clarify that the stumbling block here was the adjudication period.
“The period started on 1st January 2024 and ran until 14th October. If you look at the football schedule, the Warriors’ success falls outside that period.
“We could only judge their performances during the stipulated period, and they fell short compared to some other disciplines.
“However, in 2025, their Afcon qualification will be eligible,” he said.
This year marks the return of the awards ceremony after a five-year hiatus, and it will be held under the theme “Setting the Gold Standard”.
Under this theme, a number of innovations and additions have been put in place to ensure that this year’s edition lives up to its name and is a must-see.
Top among the new additions is the “People’s Choice” award, which puts voting power in the hands of the public.
This year’s People’s Choice award features 15 athletes from 12 disciplines and will be headlined by Zimbabwe Chevrons talisman Sikandar Raza, France-based basketball star Vitalis Chikoko, and Zimbabwe Warriors and Scottland midfielder Khama Billiat.
Other nominees include Paige Van Der Westhuizen (swimming), Sasha Chimedza (tennis), Tapiwanashe Makarawu (athletics), Tapiwa Mafura (rugby), Benjamin Lock (tennis), Kellis Ndlovu (cricket), Isaac Mpofu (athletics), Scott Vincent (golf), Felistus Kwangwa (netball), Temba Gorimbo (Mixed Martial Arts), Chido Maenzanise (strongman), and Kudakwashe Chiwandire (boxing).
Voting will be primarily conducted online.
Speaking at the unveiling, Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) board member Coleen de Jong lauded the return of the awards.
“After a four-year hiatus, the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) is proud to announce the return of Zimbabwe’s premier recognition platform for sporting excellence,” said de Jong.
“This highly anticipated event will once again celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, and media personnel who have raised the nation’s sporting flag high.
“The last edition of ANSA was held in 2020 before the world was abruptly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ensuing restrictions and global uncertainty significantly affected the sports industry, leading to the unavoidable suspension of the awards.
“As the sporting world slowly regained momentum post-pandemic, the SRC took a strategic decision to redefine and elevate the ANSA experience, ensuring that when the awards returned, they would truly be worthy of their stature as Zimbabwe’s most prestigious sporting honours,” she said.
