Ansa awards set for tonight

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
IT’S that time of the year again when the nation gets to celebrate sporting excellence by Zimbabwean athletes from various sporting disciplines at the Annual National Sports Awards set for tonight at the Rainbow Towers in Harare. The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate sporting excellence among the top performing athletes and officials each year.

But they haven’t been short on controversy and the nomination of the Warriors, in the Sports Team of the Year award, in a year the national team completed their worst World Cup campaign in history, has been a huge talking point.

In a year that did not have much in terms of achievements from the high profile athletes, seasoned karateka, Samson Muripo, is strongly tipped for the Sportsperson of the Year award.

Muripo is set to battle it out with boxer Charles Manyuchi and tennis player Takanyi Garanganga.

Muripo, who won the Sportsperson of the Year award in 2009 when he became the first black Zimbabwean to bag a world title, won gold and a silver medal at the So-Kyokushin Cup International tournament in the heavyweight category in China in October. Muripo also won a bronze medal in Bulgaria during another World Kyokushin Championships.

He is likely to face stiff competition from female rower, Micheen Thornycroft, who finished in the top 10 at the World Championships in August.

Thornycroft went on to win the Senior Africa Championships women’s singles sculls (2 000) in Tunisia.

Thornycroft is also in the running for the Sportswoman of the Year award alongside tennis ace Cara Black and hockey player Rachel Goromonzi.

Sports Commission corporate communications officer, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa, said they were ready to host the event.

“Delta Corporation sponsored the event to a tune of US$50 000 and we want to thank them. In terms of the adjudicators they met for the last time to decide the top three whom we will know tomorrow (today),” said Nheweyembwa.

This year’s edition will be graced by Sport, Arts and Culture MInister Andrew Langa.

Nominees

Sportsman of the Year
Charles Manyuchi (boxing), Takanyi Garanganga (tennis), Samson Muripo (karate).

Sportswoman of the Year
Cara Black (tennis), Micheen Thornycroft (rowing), Rachel Goromonzi (hockey).

Junior Sportsman of the Year
Faber Murray Lauchlan (rowing), Michael Songore (athletics), Peter Purcell Gilpin (rowing).

Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Laurelle Brown (triathlon), Nicole Dzenga (tennis), Ruvarashe Mzinde (athletics).

Sportsman of the Year with Disability
Daniel Nyuke (wheelchair basketball), Edmund Makutya (wheelchair racing), Elford Moyo (wheelchair racing).

Sportswoman of the Year with Disability
Dorcas Hwatira (wheelchair racing), Margaret Bangajena (wheelchair racing), Moline Muza (wheelchair racing).

Junior Sportsman of the Year with Disability
Brian Mafuvise (wheelchair tennis), Emmanuel Musara (T13 athletics), Shepherd Banda (wheelchair tennis).

Junior Sportswoman of the Year with Disability
Jenifer Zibamwe (T13 athletics), Patience Majoni (IC athletics), Laina Sithole (T13 athletics).

Team of the Year
National team Under-19 (volleyball), Zimbabwe cricket (cricket), Zimbabwe Warriors (football).

Coach of the Year
Ian Gorowa (football), Rachel Davis (Rowing), Wayne Davidson (triathlon).

Technical Official of the Year
Ginny Ross (hockey), Joyce Muchenu (basketball), Rick Fulton (triathlon).

Sports Administration of the Year
Triathlon Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Karate Union, Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union.

Sport Development of the Year
National BMX Association of Zimbabwe, National Darts Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Netball Association.

Women in Sport Award
Eugenia Chidhakwa, Anna Mguni.