17 May 2025

Botswana’s sprinter, Letsile Tebogo has been nominated for two major categories at the upcoming Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), to be held in Zimbabwe on May 24.

Tebogo has been shortlisted alongside South African sprinter Akani Simbine and Zimbabwean Tapiwamnashe Makarawu for the coveted Sportsman of the Year accolade.

Tebogo’s outstanding achievements this year have cemented his favourite status. He clinched Olympic gold in the 200 metres with a time of 19.46 seconds and contributed to Botswana’s historic silver medal in the men’s 4x400 metres relay, anchoring the team to an African Record time of 2:54.53 minutes.
Meanwhile, Simbine led South Africa’s 4x100 metres relay team to silver with an African Area Record of 37.57 seconds, and Makarawu finished sixth in the Olympic 200 metres final with a time of 20.10 seconds. Tebogo’s Olympic performances position him strongly in this category.

In the Sportsperson of the Year category, Tebogo is competing against Malawian footballer Tabitha Chawinga and Zimbabwean Tapiwamnashe Makarawu.

In addition to individual awards, the nominations extend across various categories. For the Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year, Collen Kebinatshipi (400m runner) faces Lusaka Fraser from Eswatini and Zambian chess player Rafael Sharon. The Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year features Natili Banda (chess), Zambian footballer Mercy Chipasula, and Zimbabwean cricketer Kellis Ndlovu.

The Sportswoman of the Year nominees include athletics star Oratile Nowe, Malawian footballer Tabitha Chawinga, and Zambian footballer Barbra Banda. The Team of the Year nominations are for Botswana’s 4x400 metres men’s relay team, Zambia’s 4x400 metres men’s relay team, and Malawi’s Under-19 women’s cricket team.

Kebonyemodisa Mosimanyane, an athletics coach, is shortlisted for Coach of the Year alongside Namibian rugby coach Pieter Benade and Zambian athletics coach Douglas Kalembo.

A release from the African Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region 5  details the transparent selection process. The process begins at the national level, where each country hosts its own Sports Awards, with winners automatically progressing to the regional stage.

The top three nominees in each category are then selected by votes from all regional structures, including Technical Commissions and strategic organs, with a panel of 40 experienced sports journalists from all ten member countries choosing the overall winners.

The AUSC emphasised that this methodology ensures credibility and regional representation. However, the awards for Confederation of the Year and Country of the Year are determined differently by a panel of three reputable adjudicators: Falcon Sedimo, former CEO of the Botswana National Sports Commission; Puisano Tsosane, former Director of Sport in Lesotho; and Rtd Colonel Charles Nhemachena, former Director General of the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreation Commission. ENDS