Six of them have been nominated with the exception being rower Jammie Fraser McKenzie who has not been nominated according to the list released by the Sports and Recreation Commission’s spokesperson Tirivashe Nheveyembwa.
However, compatriot, Micheene Thorncroft has been nominated for the Sportswoman of the Year Award where she will have to battle with reigning sportsperson of the year, Kirsty Coventry and runnersTabitha Tsatsa, Faithy Nyasango and Sharon Tawengwa who was also at the London Olympic Games.
Cuthbert Nyasango who finished seventh in the marathon at the Olympics has also found his name on the list along with another Olympic marathon runner Wirimayi Zhuwao.
The two, however, will have to contend with top golfer Brendon de Jonge, Stephen Muzhingi, chess player, Robert Makoto, and athlete Paul Madzivire for the Sportsman of the Year Award.
Nyasha Mharakurwa who took part in the wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games has also been nominated for the Sportsman with Disability but there is no place for Elliot Mujaji.
According to Nheveyembwa, the athletes and officials have been nominated by their respective National Sport Associations and a committee of judges will then go through the nominations to come up with the winners.
The Awards which are held on an annual basis are meant to celebrate and reward sporting excellence and were introduced 15 years ago and have since then been on the sporting calendar.
“ANSA is meant to celebrate, recognize and reward sporting excellence hence the need for the all the National Sport Associations to play their part for the benefit of the athletes”, said Joseph Muchechetere, the Sports and Recreation Commission director, sports development.
There are about 10 individual awards and the winners from each category will battle for the overall award, the Sportsperson of the Year. Normally, the winner of either the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year take home the overall winner's award.
The awards are sponsored by Delta Corporation.
Post published in: Sport