adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
HARARE Sports Club centre, Teddy “Boxer” Hwata, says he has a good chance of landing big awards at the Lion Lager National Rugby League end-of-season ceremony set for November 16. Hwata, who has already bagged the Top Points Scorer award, is now looking to finish on a high as he was also nominated for the Player of the Year and Backline Player of the Year accolades.
The centre had a brilliant season as he finished as the top-scorer with 230 points this season where he was an influential player for Sportivo.
“I am confident that I am going to get my second award. I have been working very hard this season and I will not be surprised if I win three awards.
“When I started playing for Sports Club this year I told myself I was going to use my talent wisely and I did just that.
“Playing rugby is one of the best things to have happened to me and I only knew that I won the Top Points Scorer award over the weekend when a journalist called and asked me how I felt after winning the award.
“I have two more nominations in other categories. I am very happy and I said God has answered my prayer.
I have been working very hard,” said Hwata.
Hwata started playing rugby at Churchill in 2007 when he was in Form One and two years later, when he was in Form Three, he was already playing for the first team.
In 2011 Hwata’s dream of becoming the country’s’ top rugby player was shattered after suffering a career-threatening injury.
“I thought I was never going to play rugby again. I was still at Churchill when it happened in 2011 in match against St John’s College but in 2012, mid- season, I joined Sports Club,” said Hwata.
Last year Hwata won three awards for the Best Backline Player, the Best Player of the Year and the Most Improved Sevens Player.
Hwata is a utility player who fits in most positions like the scrum-half, flyhalf, fullback and centre.
NRL Nominees
Player of the Year
Teddy Hwata (Harare Sports Club)
Farai Jijita (Old Georgians)
Backline Player of the Year
Kuda Chiwanza (Old Georgians)
Magunje Gweru (Gweru Sports Club)
Teddy Hwata (Harare Sports Club)
Forward of the Year
Tawanda Chowe (Old Hararians)
Farai Jijita (Old Georgians)
Lucky Sithole (Matabeleland Warriors)
Rookie of the Year
Walter Gode (Matabeleland Warriors)
David Makamba (Harare Sports Club)
Josh Mutasa (Harare Sports Club)
Most Disciplined Player of the Year
Daniel Hondo (Harare Sports Club)
Costa Dinha (Old Hararians)
Grant Mitchel (Old Georgians)
NRL Referee of the Year
Scottt McDonnel (Mashonaland Rugby Referees Society)
Gabriel Masenda (Mashonaland Rugby Referees Society
Simba Danga (Matabeleland Rugby Referees Society)
Coach of the Year
Sykes Sibanda (Harare Sports Club)
George Mukorera (Western Panthers)
Cyprian Mandenge (Old Hararians)
Top Try Scorer
Steven Hunduza (Harare Sports Club)
Top Points Scorer
Teddy Hwata (Harare Sports Club)
Bongani Ndlovu
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