Indongo predicts awards victory

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



Former IBF, IBO and WBA world boxing champion Julius ‘Blue Machine’ Indongo has boldly stated that he deserves to win the sportsman of the year award.

The MTC/Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) Sports Awards will take place tonight at the Windhoek Country Club.

The Namibian boxer is competing with kickboxer Lesley!Haoeb and triathlon’s Jean-Paul-Burger.

“I do believe that I have been making history from last year to this year because I have been winning,” Indongo said.

“I am sure that this award will come to me because I managed to win three belts in a short period of time.

“I was also the first African to fight for a unification bout of such nature which was also a good thing.”

Boxing has in the past dominated the award, with former world champion Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda claiming the award on several occasions.

This year, the sportswoman of the year category also sees stiffer competition with three of the best women in the country equally impressive during the year.

Cyclist Michelle Voster, Maggy Mango of field hockey and long-distance runner Helalia Johannes are all vying for the top award.

The sportsman with a disability award is likely to go to Olympic medallist Ananias Shikongo who is up against his friend Johannes Nambala and Eino Mushila.

The women’s category has only two candidates in the running for the prestigious award. Namibia’s golden girl and sprinting sensation Johanna Benson and Lahja Ishitile are the two nominees in that category.

Nominees

Sportsman of the Year

1. Julius Indongo – Boxing

2. Lesley !Hoaeb – Kickboxing

3. Jean-Paul Burger – Triathlon

Sportswoman of the Year

1. Michelle Vorster – Cycling

2. Maggy Mango – Field Hockey

3. Helalia Johannes – Marathon

Sportsman of the Year with Disability

1. Eino Mushila – Para-Athletics

2. Ananias Shikongo – Para-Athletics

3. Johannes Nambala – Para-Athletics

Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

1. Johanna Benson – Para-Athletics

2. Lahja Ishitile – Para-Athletics

Coach of the Year

1. Michael Hamukwaya – Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC)

2. Nestor Tobias – Boxing

3. Erwin Handura – Field Hockey

Junior Sportsman of the Year

1. Ivan Geldenhys – Athletics

2. Lance Potgieter – Gymnastics

3. Delano Muller – Kickboxing

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

1. Sede de Sousa – Athletics

2. Charlize van Zyl – Gymnastics

3. Heleni Stergiadis – Swimming

Junior Sportsman of the Year with Disability

1. Dian Jasen – Para-Athletics

2. Kristopher Marungu – Para-Athletics

3. Mateus Kambundu – Para-Athletics

Junior Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

1. Olivia Iyambo – Para-Athletics

2. Kertu Kapweya – Para-Athletics

Sports Team of the Year

1. Senior women’s indoor hockey team

2. U/20 national rugby team

3. Senior rugby team

Umpire/Referee of the Year

1. Jackson Pavaza – Namibia Football Association (NFA)

2. Oscar Lambert – Rugby

3. Adrew Louw – Cricket

Development Programme of the Year

1. Coaches/Umpire Development Programme by Netball Namibia

2. Kids on Bike Regional Expansion Programme by Namibia Cycling Federation (NCF)

3. Field Hockey Development Programme

Sport Journalist of the Year

1. Fillephus Heehama (Energy 100 FM)

2. Otniel Hembapu (New Era)

3. Jesse Jackson Kauraisa (Namibian Sun)

4. Limba Mupetami (Namibian Sun)