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Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PIET BENADE and his Zimbabwe Sables team are set to headline this year’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) pencilled for March 30 at Cresta Lodge, Msasa.
Benade and his men were among the top stories to come out of the ANSA nominee unveiling ceremony held at the National Sports Stadium’s VIP lounge yesterday.
Other big names unveiled include the duo of Olympian Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, who will battle it out for the Sportsman of the Year award together with Zimbabwe tennis ace Benjamin Lock.
Benade is vying for the Coach of the Year award while his Zimbabwe Sables team will tussle it out for the Team of the Year.
Benade is set to battle it out with the duo of Elliot Mujaji and Triathlon’s Pamela Fulton in the Coach of the Year category, while the Sables are up against Zimbabwe Under-25 men’s team and the Lady Chevrons in the team event.
There was, however, no place for the Zimbabwe senior national football team, the Warriors, who qualified for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations slated for December 21-January 18 in Morocco.
Their omission was, however, not an oversight, as ANSA Selection panel chairperson Barry Manandi explained.
“We rightfully 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.
“Said period started January 1, 2024, and ran up to October 14, and if you look at the football schedule, during that time period, the Warriors “success” falls outside that period.
“We could only judge their performances during the stipulated period, and they fell short in some other disciplines.
“In 2025, however, their AFCON qualification will be eligible,” he said.
This year marks the return of the awards ceremony after a five-year hiatus and will run under the theme “Setting the Gold Standard.” Under this theme, a slew of innovations and additions have been put in place aimed at making this year’s edition worthy of the name and a must-see.
Top among the new additions is the “People’s Choice” award, which rightly puts voting power in the hands of the fans.
This year’s People’s Choice award attracted 15 athletes from 12 disciplines and will be headlined by the trio of Zimbabwe Chevrons talisman Sikandar Raza, France-based basketball star Vitalis Chikoko, and Zimbabwe Warriors and Scottland midfielder Khama Billiat.
The 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 done 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 Sports 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.
De Jong added that the 2024 ANSA will not only recognise the best of the best in Zimbabwean sport but will also set a new benchmark for celebrating sporting achievement.
“The theme, “Setting the Gold Standard, clearly speaks to our intention of making this event the pinnacle of sporting recognition. “This year’s event promises an enhanced format, greater stakeholder involvement, and a renewed commitment to honouring excellence in a manner befitting our nation’s top sporting talents,” she said.
Full nominees
Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Rachael O’Donoghue (Triathlon)
Kellis Ndlovu (Cricket)
Refiloe Mudodo (Chess)
Junior Sportsman of the Year
Cullum Smith (Triathlon)
Rohnan Nicholson (Triathlon)
David Nyamufarira (Athletics)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year with
a Disability
Aaliyah Zuwa (Paralympics)
Tawananyasha Magonde (Paralympics)
Tapiwanashe Mlanda (Special Olympics)
Junior Sportsman of the Year with
a Disability
Nyasha Matsungo (Paralympics)
Wisdom Chapwanya (Paralympics)
Tadiwanashe Makusha (Special Olympics)
Sportswoman of the Year
Modester Mupachikwa (Cricket)
Paige Van Der Westhuizen (Swimming)
Andie Leigh Kuipers (Triathlon)
Sportsman of the Year
Benjamin Lock (Tennis)
Tapiwanashe Makarawu (Athletics)
Makanakaishe Charamba (Athletics)
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Munyaradzi Katiyo (Paralympics)
Kudakwashe Chigwedere (Paralympics)
Samson Muroyiwa (Paralympics)
Professional Boxing and Wrestling
Promoter of the Year
Tapiwa Mukombe
Lindsay Earle
Prosper Chibaya
Outstanding Professional Male Boxer
Tatenda Biningu
Peter Pambeni
Hassan Milanzi
Coach of the Year
Elliot Mujaji (Paralympics)
Pieter Benade (Rugby)
Pamela Fulton (Triathlon)
Technical Official of the Year
Collen Jimu (Athletics)
Langton Rusere (Cricket)
Sarah Bennet (Hockey)
Team of the Year
Men’s U25 Team (Cricket)
Sables Men’s Team (Rugby)
Women National Team (Cricket)
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