PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

All of the country’s athletes and technical officials who have been nominated have merited their selection and these include top United States-based sprinter Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Women’s cricket ace Kelis Ndhlovu and Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby coach Piet Benade.

Zimpapers Sports

THE Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) are set to return after a five-year hiatus with the ceremony penciled for March 30 at the Cresta Lodge, Msasa.

This year’s awards will run under the theme ‘Setting The Gold Standard’ and will see a slew of new additions and innovations aimed at making the ANSA a world-class event.

Among these awards is the addition of a ‘People’s Choice’ award which is set to make its debut at this year’s edition and will feature 15 athletes from 12 local disciplines.

The nominees in this category include Chevrons’ talisman Sikandar Raza, France-base basketball ace Vitalis Chikoko, 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), Khama Billiat (football), Temba Gorimbo (Mixed Martial Arts), Chido Maenzanise (strong man), Kudakwashe Chiwandire (boxing).

Voting for this award will be done primarily online.

For the main awards, 10 categories are currently on the card and these include Junior Sportsman of the Year, Junior Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, Sportswoman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, Outstanding Professional Male Boxer, Outstanding professional female boxer, Coach of the Year, Technical Official of the Year and Team of the Year.

There will also be the Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Sports Journalist of the Year (Electronic) and Sports Media House of the Year.