Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga and Tinashe Kusema
SIKANDAR RAZA had a moment to savour last night as the Chevrons captain walked away with a double of the top gongs after being named the 2025 Sportsperson and Sportsman of the Year.
Raza was unveiled as the winner at the Annual Sports Awards gala in Harare.
The T20 skipper had an exceptional season during the year under review.
He opened it by getting shortlisted for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year based on his stellar 2024 performance.
Raza then reached the number one spot in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings for the first time in early 2025.
He later also achieved the world number one T20I all-rounder ranking in late 2025.
Earlier in the year, he had broken the record for the most Player of the Match awards in T20Is by a Full Member nation cricketer, reaching 18 awards and surpassing established players like Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli of India.
The 39-year-old inspired the Chevrons back to the World Cup stage after a three-year hiatus when Zimbabwe qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup with a near flawless campaign at home.
Raza also broke a couple of national records as he became the first Zimbabwean cricketer to reach the milestone of 5 000 runs in the T20I format.
He also made a mark in the international gigs, playing a legendary role in helping the Lahore Qalandars win their third Pakistan Super League title.
“Firstly, I want to congratulate the other nominees, and truly, it’s an honour to be nominated among you.
“I wish you all great success in your respective sports, because by you doing well, we will keep raising our flag high.
“I am incredibly humbled and honoured to have won this award,’’ Raza said.
“I want to thank my family, my teammates, and the support staff that I have around me.
“Without all of you, this wouldn’t have been possible.
“I want to thank everyone abroad, home, away, for their prayers.
“That kept pushing me forward, and kept achieving greater heights.
“Thank you Zimbabwe, and Zimbabweans for your trust, and for your care, and for your love.
“And I cannot be thankful, and I truly, truly am very grateful.
“Most importantly, I want to thank God for the continuous blessings, because without that, I wouldn’t be who I am, and I wouldn’t be where I am.’’
He also had some words to share for fellow athletes.
“Lastly, a quote from my fellow athletes, that I designed for myself, and it has helped me in difficult times.
“If my mind can perceive it, my heart can believe it, then I surely can achieve it.”
It was also a big night for rugby as the Zimbabwe senior team and Piet Benade were crowned Team of the Year and Coach of the Year, defending their crown from the previous edition.
The Sables, who are on their way to next year’s World Cup in Australia emerged top in a category that also featured the Hockey Under-21 Ladies side and the Zimbabwe senior cricket team.
After 34 years of missing out on the global showpiece, the Sables finally struck the right chord when beating Namibia 30-28 at the Rugby Africa Cup final held in Uganda last year.
The win not only saw the Sables defend their Africa Cup title but also secure a berth to the 2027 World Rugby World Cup that will be held in Australia.
The awards banquet also saw their gaffer Piet Benade defend his Coach of the Year award.
Both the Sables and Benade were represented by assistant coach Ricky Chirengende.
“Yeah, I think it’s very rewarding when you get recognised for the work and we are very happy,” said Chirengende.
“You know, two awards and I think this is obviously off the back of a successful 2024 as well.
“So, the last two years have been very successful for the Sables and we really appreciate the recognition for the efforts.
“It’s a big inspiration and I think it just spurs us on. It allows us to go even further in terms of our goals as we are not any less motivated, but this just gives us a pat on the back and say we are headed in the right direction,” he said.
The Sables have already started the year brightly and could very well be back on the podium for the 2026 edition.
Among the other big winners were Junior Sportsperson of the Year gong went to Ruvarashe Makunike and rising triathlon star Zander Botha who was crowned Junior Sportsman of the Year.
Simbarashe Mushayi was crowned as the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.
Zimpapers Sports Hub’s reporter Langton Nyakwenda got the Sport Journalist of the Year.
“I would like to appreciate the organisers of this prestigious event that recognise sporting excellence.
“This award means a lot to me, my family and my workmates.
“I want to appreciate my employer Zimpapers for giving me the platform to showcase my talent.
“Above all, credit goes to the Almighty God for making this possible,” he said.
In the boxing category, Lindsay Earle won Promoter of the Year while Tarisai Mutsau was named the Outstanding Professional female boxer of the Year.
The male equivalent of the award went to Ndabezihle Phiri.
The Annual National Sports Awards received a stamp of approval from the Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Anselem Sanyatwe, who was the guest of honour at the banquet.
“To be nominated for these awards is itself an important achievement.
“It reflects hard work, consistency, sacrifice and commitment to raising the standard of sports in our country, our beloved motherland Zimbabwe.
“To those who received awards this evening, I extend warm congratulations to you on behalf of Government,’’ Sanyatwe said.
“Your success is testimony to what can be achieved when talent is matched with discipline and determination.
“Sports is far more than competition. It is indeed a tool for nation building, social cohesion, health and wellness of individuals, youth empowerment, soft diplomacy and economic activity.
“Sports also is a vehicle through which our communities are united.
“It also serves as a means of strengthening our identity and the projection of our national image’’.
Sanyatwe added that the sport was a key pillar in Government’s vision as enunciated in the National Development Strategy.
“To that end, the Government continues to place sports at the centre of our national development agenda. In line with the National Development Strategy, sport is recognised as an important enabler of inclusive growth, youth participation, human capital development and social transformation.
“The National Development Strategy calls upon sectors of our economy and society to contribute meaningfully to the development of our people.
“And sport has a clear strategic role to play in that process.
“The Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture is therefore guided by the clear mandate to promote, develop, regulate and support sports in all its forms.
“This mandate includes the identification and development of sporting talent, the strengthening of sporting institutions within the country and the promotion of physical activity and the health of lifestyles,” he said.
