This really makes sorry reading in cricketing terms. And I am not saying this because I am a cricket fan. Only Charles Coventry's efforts are being realised in the Zim Sporting world but I dont think he has done enough to deserve the award. I will single out two Zim Cricketing heros that should be gunning for the sports person of the Year.Sports awards nominations start trickling in
By Augustine Hwata
NOMINATIONS for this year’s Annual National Sports Award finalists have began trickling in with the entries closing on November 13.
So far the judges’ panel has met to sift through the entries that have reached them and also, await for more submissions from members of the public and the sport associations.
Sport and Recreation Commission manager for national associations Tendai Mukuruva, who is also in charge of the ANSA secretariat, believes preparations are on course.
"We have started making intense preparations for the Annual National Sports Awards ceremony.
"Already we have opened up the submission of nominations.
"The judges’ panel has met more than once to deliberate on the entries and the selection criteria.
"Selection criteria for all the other categories have been finalised while we are still to polish up on a few things on the sports administrators’ award, " Mukuruva said.
Headmaster of the Hartman House, Paul Nenjarama, chairs the judges’ panel that also includes Glenda Head from the aquatics federation, Zimbabwe Cricket manager for tertiary institutions Titus Zvomuya, Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe chairman Wellington Nyoni and former SWAZ chairman Goodwill Zunidza make up the selection committee.
Mukuruva is an ex-officio member of the panel.
While the Sports Commission is still trying to come up with a suitable venue for the function set for December 18.
"So far, December 18 looks like the agreed date unless something changes," Mukuruva said.
Mukuruva maintained that the names they have were just a draft sought by the Sports Commission only as most of the associations are yet to make their own submissions.
"What we have is a working list of names that have been submitted to the judges panel.
"Most of the names that we got are from the SRC’s tracking system of athletes while just a few names have come through the sport associations.
"We are now urging the associations to forward their names to the long list so that the judges panel start working on the finalists," Mukuruva said.
Among the entries on the long list is reigning Sportsperson of the Year Kirsty Coventry who set a world record at the Fina championships 200m backstroke in 2 minutes 4.81 seconds in Rome.
Coventry also won a silver in the 400m individual medley in 4 minutes 32. 12seconds.
She is the hot favourite to win the Sportswoman of the Year award before taking the overall 2009 Sportsperson of the Year award.
Tennis player Cara Black is also in the running after being included on the long list for the Sportswoman of the Year award. Long distance runner Sharon Taengwa, winner of the City to City Nedbank Marathon, is also aiming for an accolade alongside compatriots Samukeliso Moyo and Varaidzo Shindi.
Sensei Samson Muripo is the pre-favourite for the Sportsman of the Year accolade following his win in the World kyokhushin karate championships. In winning the title, Muripo became the first African to achieve the feat.
Comrades marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi, motor rally driver Jamie Whyte, boxer Thamsanqa Dube, cricketer Charles Coventry and long jumper Ngoni Makusha are also in the running for this award.
The battle for Coach of the Year is so far between Rodwell Dhlakama, who led Monomotapa to the mini-league phase of the African Champions League, national Sevens rugby coach Liam Middleton and Under-19 rugby coach Brighton Chivandire.
1. Hamilton Masakadza scoring 936runs at an average of 75. Best score 178*. (2009) remarkable stuff no matter who the opposition is.
2. Raymond Price taking 34 wickets in 20 games. He is up there with the very best in the world (2009)
I think these are exploits that deserve recognition. To some extend these nominations go down to the Sporting Associations, so if ZC dont bring thier nominations to the Table the Sport and Recreation Commission wont worry themselves.