Namibian stars to be honoured

Namibia’s 2024 Paris Paralympics standout performer, Lahja Ishitile, leads the cast for the upcoming national sport awards, which for the first time, will include a hall of fame induction.

The landmark 20th Namibia Sport Awards (Rasa) reception takes place at the Windhoek Country Club on 22 November, the organisers said at yesterday’s nominations announcement.

Arguably, the country’s most accomplished star over the period under review, Ishitile is shortlisted for two awards: the sport star main prize and sportswoman with a disability of the year.

“We have been celebrating the passion, zeal and excellence of our sport men and women and again look forward to doing so during the 20th edition of the national sport awards,” Namibia Sports Commission spokesperson Givean Samulandela said.

The awards will introduce the wall of fame to “honour Namibians who have stood out since independence”, says Rasa assistant project director Erwin Handura.

“This is something new. It is a dedicated space, which for now, it will be at the sport commission, displaying our former sport stars, from top athletes to officials,” he says.

“Our judges will have a big job, starting next week. Nominations will not come from federations, it will come from the results and achievements dating back to 1991.

“Only three people will be considered for nomination each year.”

The adjudication panel went through 96 entries across 18 categories to shortlist the most outstanding athletes.

However, there may be many top performers who will miss out on a chance for national recognition due to lax administrators, says chief judge Lesley Tjiueza.

“I appreciate those who submitted credentials and motivations for their athletes. It shows dedication and commitment. However, there is still room for improvement. Some of these sport administrators have failed their athletes, which is an outrage,” Tjiueza notes.

He says only one entry was received for the shining star in the diaspora prize, so the nominees’ identity will only be made public when the award is presented.

“Those sport codes will have to explain to their affiliates why they have not nominated athletes to the awards panel. We have over 50 sport codes in the country, but, for example, we received only two nominations for junior sportsman of the year”.

The full nominees are:

Best Sportswoman – Vera Looser (Cycling), Abraham Ester (Wrestling), Helalia Johannes (Athletics);

Best Sportsman – Jannie Meuwesen (Archery), Stephanus Marais (Shooting), Adrian van der Pas (Ice/Inline Hockey), Alexander Miller (Cycling);

Best Sportswoman with Disability – Lahja Ishitile (Para-athletics) and Johanna Benson (Para-athletics)

Best Sportsman with Disability – Ananias Shikongo (Para-athletics), Chris Kinda (Para-athletics), Johannes Nambala (Para-athletics), Petrus Karuli (Para-athletics);

Best Junior Sportsman – Roger Suren (Cycling) and Magano Naseb (Athletics);

Best Junior Sportswoman – Jessica Humphrey (Aquatics Sports), Maya Brinkmann (Traithlon), Jessica Blaauw (Gymnastics), Delsia Jansen van Vuuren (Cycling);

Best Junior Sportswoman with Disability – Lahja Ipinge (Para-athletics), Veronica Kasolola (Para-athletics), Namasiku van der Linden (Para-swimming)

Best Junior Sportsman with Disability – Zekka Chikumba (Para-athletics), David Isack (Para-athletics), Amavila Shapumba (Para-athletics)

Best Team – Namibia aquatic team, ice and inline hockey senior men’s team, open hunting rifle shooting team, Namibia Precision Rifle Association team;

Best Umpire/referee – Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Football), Helmut Mack (Cricket), Shivolo Trefina (Boxing);

Best Coach – Nadia Schmidt (Ice and Inline Hockey), Letu Hamhola (Athletics/Para-athletics), T’Niel Young (Paralympics), Vesselin Kostin (Gymnastics)

Sports Star – Alexander Miller (Cycling), Chenoult Lionel Coetzee (Athletics), Jannie Meuwesen (Archery), Lahja Ishitile (Para-athletics);

Community Inspiration – Delano Muller, Richard Frankle, Aroab Football Academy;

Best Development Project – NCF/RMB Kids on Bikes Programme, NFA Development Programme, Standard Bank Junior Hockey Initiative;

Federation of the year – Cricket Namibia and Namibia Ruby Union;

Sport journalist of the Year (Broadcasting) – Michael Ditu (NBC), Terence Mukasa (One Africa Television), Strauss Lunyangwe (New Era);

Sport journalist of the Year (Print) – Strauss Lunyangwe (New Era), Mariud Ngula (SportWrap);

Sport journalist of the Year (Digital) – Brian Munango (Namibia Media Holdings), Tangi Muludu (Twaindila Media) and Strauss Lunyangwe (New Era).