07 Apr 2016

It is that time of the year again, a time where Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) award women and men who have excelled in sport.

On Tuesday, BNSC unveiled nominees who will stand a chance to be winners at the 36^th annual BNSC sport award.

All eyes will be on the sport man of the year, which has pitted Isaac Makwala of athletics, against Ofentse Bakwadi of Karate and Zibani Chikanda of boxing.

In this category, the adjudicators will definitely find it difficult to select the ultimate winner. Makwala is a national record holder who won gold again at the All Africa Games, held in Congo Brazzaville in the 400m . He finished in the finals World Championships in China, and he has qualified for Rio 2016 Olympics.No doubt Ofentse Bakwadi has also achieved a lot as a gold medallist in individual kumite 67kg, Zone 6 Championships, gold medallist individual kumite 67kg bronze medallist in individual kata Zone 6 championships, bronze medallist individual kata at All Africa Games

Zibani Chikanda also has a chance given that he won gold medal at  boxing zonal competitions Best of the Best and at the senior boxing championships. He won sliver at the senior Africa championship in Morocco, a bronze at All Africa Games Congo held in  Brazzaville and he scooped the 2015 BoBA awards boxer of the year.

Another interesting category is of sport administrator of the year, where Tebogo Lebotse -Sebego of netball is pitted against two shrewd administratorsi n  Roslyn Tebele of Special Olympics and Tshenolo Maruatona of chess.

Speaking at the launch, BNSC chairperson Solly Reikeletseng said the team of adjudicators received submissions from national sport associations and “diligently” applied the evaluation guidelines to determine the finalists per category.

He said selecting the most deserving champion was not an easy task considering the level of competitiveness by all, adding that the guideline approved by the leadership of sport had given the committee independence to freely and fairly decide on the deserving candidates.

Furthermore, he said the 2016 awards were coming at the height of the preparations for the celebrations for 50 years of independence, adding as a critical player in advancing the spirit of national unity, pride and prosperity, this year's theme for the awards would be United and Proud.

Meanwhile in other categories Galefele Morocco, of athletics Naomi Ruele, of swimming and Naledi Marape of chess will battle for junior female sportsperson of the year.

Karabo Sibanda of athletics, Khaya Groth of Karate and James Freeman of swimming will vie for junior male sportsperson of the year.

Botswana Karate Association, Botswana Athletics Association, Botswana Volleyball Federation will compete for the national team of the year, Botswana Chess Federation, Botswana Football Association and Botswana Cricket Association will compete for the sport code of the year.

Boikhutso Mudongo of chess, Lame Hetang of Karate and, Koketso Dipogiso of boxing will contend for sport woman of the year, Joshua Bondo of football, karates Mpho Bakwadi and Emmanuel Kgaboetsile of badminton will compete for umpire/referee of the year.

Coach of the year category has pitted George Tshikare of karate, Lechedzani Master Luza of boxing and Mogomotsi Otsetswe of athletics, in the non-citizen awards Fazal Sherrif of cricket, Zilwele Khumalo of rugby Darrel Morton of swimming will contend in this category. Group code of the year has Special Olympics and BOPSSA, sport person with disability-man has Tshepo Kgatwane of Special Olympics and Keatlaretse Mabote, of PASSOBO. Ends