Andrew
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Sunday Mail’s sports reporter, Langton Nyakwenda, bagged two awards at the Sports Journalists Association (Spoja) Awards’ ceremony held at a Harare hotel on Friday night.
Nyakwenda was crowned Best Print Media Sport Journalist and overall Best Sports Journalist of the Year at a colourful event graced by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza.
In saluting Nyakwenda, head of the adjudication team, Steve Vickers, said the reporter’s feature stories were an illustration of “what we call shoe and leather journalism”.
“The stories we were looking at had to show that the journalist travelled to the source, interviewed a lot of people and also took interesting images,” said Vickers.
Nyakwenda’s entries included a story on the humble background of Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, who spent his early childhood in rural Hwange.
Nyakwenda travelled to Hwange and interviewed the locals there, including officials at Dinde Primary where Nakamba did his elementary education.
The Sunday Mail Reporter also travelled to Mutoko where he did a story on former Zimbabwe national team captain Willard Katsande.
“I feel honoured to be given these awards,” Nyakwenda said.
“We have so many brilliant sports journalists in the country, and to be chosen the winner is quite an achievement. I would like to thank The Sunday Mail family led by Victoria Ruzvidzo for her support and mentorship.
“Much appreciation also goes to main sponsors of the awards, Better Brands Jewellery, for honouring sports journalists in Zimbabwe.”
Nyakwenda marked the International Sports Journalists Day in style as he won the Sports Journalists’ Association’s Best Reporter award a day before the world commemorated the special day for sports writers.
Online Reporter