Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CRICKET star Kelis Ndhlovu has expressed excitement following her nomination for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards to be held in Harare on Saturday.
The awards gala, being staged in Zimbabwe for the first time, will be held tomorrow night at the Harare International Conference Centre.
AUSC Region 5 member countries established the awards to recognise and celebrate sporting excellence within the 10 states: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
RASA is a culmination of all member countries’ individual awards, as all member countries are expected to host their own National Sports Awards prior to the regional event.
Winners of the countries’ awards become nominees for the RASA.
Zimbabwe have five nominations in the 10 competitive categories under consideration, with Ndhlovu up for the Junior Female Sports-person of the Year.
She is the 2024 Annual National Sports Awards Junior Sports-person of the Year and Junior Sports-woman of the Year.
Ndhlovu will have to shrug off competition from Botswana’s chess star Natalie Katlo Banda and footballer Mercy Chipasula of Zambia.
“Actually, it’s something huge for me because I wasn’t even aware of this. But I am so happy, it’s a step forward for me.
“It’s something that I have achieved because of hard work. It’s something that shows the hard work that I have been putting in for the past years,” Ndhlovu said.
Some of the highs posted by Ndhlovu in 2024 include her being part of the Lady Chevrons side that won gold at the 13th African Games in Ghana, where she was named player of the series.
The 19-year-old made the International Cricket Council’s top 20 all-rounders ranking.
The emerging cricketer believes the nomination at the regional level can also open doors for her in the future.
“Definitely it’s something that is going to contribute a lot, especially in my career.
“I think it will open doors for me because it’s like I am now on a big page where everyone can see who I am and what I do.”
“Actually, I am looking forward to winning, obviously . . . I just have a big feeling that I am going to win,” Ndhlovu said.
Besides Ndhlovu, sprinter Tapiwanashe Makarawu is in the running for Sportsman of the Year and Sports-person of the Year at the regional awards, while Sables’ coach Pieter Benade is up for Coach of the Year.
Makarawu was crowned the 2024 ANSA Sportsman of the Year and Sports-person of the Year.
Benade got the ANSA Coach of the Year.
This is the first time Zimbabwe are hosting the regional awards since their inception in 2016.
The awards ceremony will be graced by His Excellency President Mnangagwa.
AUSC Region 5 Regional Annual Awards Nominees Team of the Year:
Botswana 4x400m Men’s Relay Team — Athletics (Botswana)
Zambia 4x400m Men’s Relay Team — Athletics (Zambia)
Malawi U19 Women’s Cricket Team (Malawi)
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability
Lahja Ishitile — Athletics T11 (Namibia0
Taonele Banda Athletics T13 (Malawi)
Simone Kruger — Discus F38 (South Africa)
Sports-woman of the Year
Tabitha Chawinga — Football (Malawi)
Barbra Banda — Football (Zambia)
Oratile Nowe — Athletics (Botswana)
Sportsman of the Year
Letsile Tebogo — Athletics (Botswana)
Akani Simbine — Athletics (South Africa)
Tapiwanashe Makarawu — Athletics (Zimbabwe)
Sports-person of the Year
Letsile Tebogo — Athletics (Botswana)
Tabitha Chawinga — Football (Malawi)
Tapiwanashe Makarawu — Athletics (Zimbabwe)
Sports Journalist of the Year
Cosmas Mulenga (Zambia)
Ellina Mhlanga (Zimbabwe)
Limba Mupetami (Namibia)
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Mpumelelo Mhlongo — Athletics T44 (South Africa)
Chris Kinda — Athletics T11 (Namibia)
Moses Misoya — Athletics T13 (Malawi)
Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year
Kelis Ndhlovu — Cricket (Zimbabwe)
Natalie Katlo Banda — Chess (Botswana)
Mercy Chipasula — Football (Zambia)
Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year
Collen Busang Kebinatshipi — Athletics (Botswana)
Luca Fraser — Swimming (Eswatini)
Rafel Sharon — Chess (Zambia)
Coach of the Year
Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane — Athletics (Botswana)
Pieter Benade — Rugby (Zimbabwe)
Douglas Kalembo — Athletics (Zambia)
