Tipped to win big

All roads will lead to Swakopmund tomorrow night, when the coastal town hosts the annual MTC Namibia Sports Awards, where marathon runner Helalia Johannes and amateur boxer Jonas Junias are expected to win big.

Johannes has performed superbly this year, winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's marathon in Australia in April, proving that perseverance pays off.

She also ran the race of her life and broke the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon women's record in September.

Johannes also won the Erongo Powersave Street Mile women's race earlier this month.

Junias delivered an amazing achievement, when he too won gold at the Gold Coast-hosted Commonwealth Games.

Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said they are ready to host the awards for the first time at The Dome in Swakopmund.

“Preparations are running smoothly. We arrived in Swakopmund early to make sure that things go according to plan. The production set-up was at 90% last time I checked,” he said.

Mwiya added that ticket sales are running smoothly.

“We have received a great response from the town, as well as corporates, in terms of sales, with our activations that we have been doing.”

The awards show will see sport stars battle it out in 14 categories, in addition to the People Sports Star of the Year award.

Ananias Shikongo, who will be competing against Johannes Nambala for the Sportsman of the Year with Disability award, said there is no competition with Nambala, as he is like a brother to him. If I win, it's for us both, and vice versa,” he said.

Other the other categories and nominees are as follows:



Sportsman of the Year

Likius Nande (golf)

Jonas Junius (amateur boxing)

Tristan de Lange (cycling)



Sportswoman of the Year

Natascha Rottcher (water ski)

Magreth Mengo (indoor hockey)

Helalia Johannes (athletics)



Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

Sylvia Shivolo (shot put and discus)

Lahja Ishitile (athletics)

Johanna Benson (athletics)

Junior Sportsman of the Year

Lance Potgieter (gymnastics)

Alexander Miller (cycling)

Adriaan Grobler (archery)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

Carane van Zyl (gymnastics)

Kiana Cormack (hockey)

Quinn Redding (archery)



Sports Team of the Year

Senior women's indoor hockey team

Junior men's inline hockey team

Senior men's rugby team



Junior Sportsman of the Year with Disability

Alfredo Bernado (athletics)

Bradley Murere (athletics)

Dian Jansen (javelin and shot put)



Junior Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

Beatha Hausiku (athletics)

Emilia Musenge (athletics)



Development Programme of the Year

NFA Galz & Goals

Kids on Bikes Cycling

Rugby Development Programme



Sports Journalist of the Year

Limba Mupetami - Namibian Sun

Sheefeni Nicodemus - The Namibian

Hesron Kapanga - Nampa



Coach of the Year

Barbara Fernandez Veitia (National Paralympic Committee)

Robert Kaxuxuena (athletics)

Tobias Nashilongo (professional boxing)



Umpire/Referee of the Year

Patrick Esterhuizen (professional boxing)

Jamal Madiane (gymnastics)

Berthold Karumendu (athletics)

Erongo RED is sponsor of the People's Choice Sports Star award.

Corporate tickets for the event cost N$800 and a general ticket will set you back N$400.

LIMBA MUPETAMI