Thursday 27 October 2016

SUPPLEMENT

NAMIBIA SPORTS AWARDS 2016

A Publication of 27 October 2016 2 Sport Awards

Namibia Sports Awards Program From the Chairman’s 28 October 2016 Theme “Thriving in the Namib” 18:30 Arrival of Guests 19:00 – 2000 Guests get seated and dinner is served Background Music – Weekend band/Equipped Dance Academy (Choreography) Desk Announcement by Director of Ceremonies: Ms.Lorraine Kondombolo & Mr. Ashwyn Mberi that the Bar will be closed during the presentation of opportunity to unite members of Awards and Live coverage. the community through sports. 20:00– 20:10 1. National Anthem & AU Anthem Throughout the years we have co- 2. Live broadcast starts ordinated many awards ceremonies 20:15 – 20:30 3. Welcoming by the Director of Ceremony Mrs. Lorraine that have become prestigious Kondombolo & Mr. Ashwyn Mberi. and highly regarded throughout 4. Address by Ms. Lesley Tjiueza – Chairperson Awards Judging Panel. the country and this year’s sports 5. Let us now observe a moment of Silence in remembrance awards will be no exception to this. of our Sports Heroes and Heroines who passed-on during the The glamorous event will take year under review (names & pictures being shown) 6. Presentation of Life time Achievement Awards – The Namibian place at the Country Representative Club on the evening of the 28 October 2016. Many high-profile 20:30 – 20:35 Entertainment – Matongo Family sports personalities will be 20:35 – 21:10 Awards Ceremony – 1 1. Coca Cola Coach of the Year – Meryl Groenewald/Coca Cola attending the evening, showing 2. Coca Cola Referee/Umpire of the year – Meryl Groenewald their support for the country’s 3. NWR Volunteer of the year – Mr. Mufaro Nesongano. sporting successes. The year, 2016, 4. NBL Team of the year – Namibia Breweries. 5. Most Improved Sportsperson – NBC has seen an abundance of sporting 6. MTC Junior Sportswoman of the year – Mr. Joseph Mundjindi accomplishments within the 7. MTC Junior Sportsman of the year – Mr. Joseph Mundjindi 8. Nampower Junior Sportsman With Disability Of The Year country, regionally, continentally Ms. Martha Shifotoka and internationally. 9. Nampower Junior Sportsman with Disability of the Year - This year we will have 12 Ms. Martha Shifotoka. categories which will honour teams, 21:10 – 21:20 Entertainment – Matongo Family sportsmen and women, amateurs 21:20 – 21:25 Presentation of the NWR Chairperson’s Award – together with NWR. and professionals, clubs, volunteers Mr. Joel Matheus – Chairperson Namibia Sports Commission and the country’s youngest sports 21:25 – 21:30 Address by MTC – Mr. Tim Ekandjo – Chief Human Capital and Corpo Joel Matheus, NSC Chairperson rate Affairs Officer (message on behalf of all sponsors) people, who have gone above and 21:30– 21:45 Keynote Address by The Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, beyond to achieve great things Honorable Jerry Ekandjo within sports. he 2016 Namibia Sports for themselves and our beautiful 21:45 – 22:00 Entertainment – Big Ben Family Awards is a high profile and A nationally televised gala, the country. elegant evening dedicated to 2016 Namibia Sports Awards will 22:00 – 22:35 Awards Ceremony – 2 The Namibia Sports Awards 1. FNB Sports Journalist of the year Awards – Mr. Gordon Pokolo. Thonour and recognise the exceptional bring together approximately 500 would not be the yearly success 2. Nampower Sportsman with Disability of the Year – performances of our athletes, coaches, members of the sporting community it is without the support and Ms. Tangeni Kambangula 3. Nampower Sportsman with Disability of the Year – administrators and technical officials. to honour the spirit, drive and participation of each and every Ms. Tangeni Kambangula This annual event celebrates the true commitment of Namibia’s athletes, sponsor, nominee, finalist and 4. MTC Sportswoman of the year – Honorable Agnes Tjongarero/ coaches, sports leaders, volunteers, Mr. Tim Ekandjo champions of Namibian sport.The eventual winner. We thank them all 5. MTC Sportsman of the Year – Honorable Agnes Tjongarero/ Namibia Sports Awards recognise media, inspired youth and many more. for their contribution to the event Mr. Tim Ekandjo and showcase excellence in Namibian The Namibian Sports Commission is 6. MTC Sports Achiever of the year - Honorable Jerry Ekandjo/ and wish all of the future finalists Mr. Tim Ekandjo sports. The awards evolved over honoured once again to once again the very best of luck. 22:35 – 22:40 Vote of Thanks by – Mr. Monica Shapwa – Chairperson Awards time to become a premier event that organise and support the entire event. I thank you Committee Presentation of Sponsors’ gifts – Chalo Chainda honours outstanding achievements of We understand the importance of 22:40 – 22:50 AU Anthem & National Anthem Namibia’s best athletes and leaders, sport in our community and the 2016 Joel Matheus 22:50 – 23:05 Entertainment - Weekend band/Big Ben Family thus showcasing the heroes that live Namibia Sports Awards is the perfect NSC: Chairperson 23:05 Music/ Coffee / Departure

coke advert Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 3 27 October 2016 Namibia Sport Highlights 2015-16

OCTOBER 2015 NOVEMBER 2015

Namibia shine at Rugby World Cup Naigambo wins Valencia in record time Namibia gave their best performance yet when they competed at their fifth consecutive Rugby World Cup in Beata Naigambo won the Valencia Marathon on 15 England in September and October 2015. Namibia once November for the second year in a row in a record time again lost all their matches, but they gained their first- of 2:26:58.It was also a new personal best for Naigambo, ever bonus point after a narrow 17-16 defeat to Georgia. who took 30 seconds off her previous best of 2:27:28 Besides that, they also lost 58-14 to New Zealand, that she set at the Marathon in April 2015. 35-22 to Tonga and 64-19 to Argentina during the group Naigambo finished well ahead of Kenya’s Janet Rono stages. who was second in 2:27:34, while Morocco’s Malika Asahssah came third in 2:28:02. Naidjala wins WBA interim title Ahrens qualifies for third Olympics Immanuel Naidjala won the WBA Interim Bantamweight title after beating Cebo Ngema of South Gaby Ahrens qualified for her third Olympic Games Africa on a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds. when she won the women’s Olympic Trap division at Naidjala, who impressed with his hand speed, the African Shooting Championships in Cairo, Egypt comfortably won the fight with the three judges scoring it on 29 November. The final was a nerve-wracking affair Renaldo Bothma on the attack against Georgia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 118-111, 118-111, 120-108 in his favour. Julius Indongo and fortunes swayed to and fro between Ahrens and reclaimed the WBO Africa Junior Welterweight title after her Moroccan opponent, Mariem Rammah, but Ahrens another comfortable points victory against ’s finally won the contest 15-10. Zolani Marali, with the judges scoring it 120-108, 117- 111, 120-108 in Indongo’s favour. Sakaria Lukas retained DECEMBER 2015 the WBA Africa Featherweight title after knocking compatriot Nathaneal Kamati out in the fifth round. Ambunda defends IBO title

Nambala wins gold at IPC World Champs Paulus Ambunda successfully defended his IBO Super Bantamweight title after beating Jason Cooper of Namibia won one gold, one silver and two bronze Australia over 12 rounds. Ambunda comfortably won the medals at the IPC Athletics World Championships which fight on points over 12 rounds, with the judges scoring took place from 22 to 31 October in Doha, Qatar.Johannes it 120-108, 115-113, 117-111 in his favour. Immanuel Nambala won a gold medal in the T13 200m final in a Naidjala beat Nasibu Ramadhan of Tanzania on points new African record time of 21,74 seconds, and a bronze over 12 rounds to win the vacant WBO Inter-continental medal in the T13 400m in 48,68.Ananias Shikongo bantamweight title, while Sackey Shikukutu beat Tyson narrowly missed out on a gold medal when he finished Uushona on points over 12 rounds to win the IBO Africa second in the Men’s T11 200m final. Felipe Gomes of welterweight title. Brazil won gold in 22,83 seconds while Shikongo won silver in 22,84 seconds. Johanna Benson won a bronze Women’s hockey make history against SA medal in the Women’s T37 200m in a season’s best time of 29,98 seconds. Namibian women’s hockey team made history by beating South Africa and finishing second at an Namibia reach Davis Cup final international Four Nations Hockey tournament in Durban. Namibia beat South Africa for the first time in Namibian men’s tennis team made history when they South Africa with a 3-2 victory on 17 December. Namibia reached the Davis Cup Africa Group 3 final for the first also beat the United States 3-2 but lost 2-1 to Australia to time, after beating Algeria 2-1.It was the first time that finish second in the group and qualify for the final against Namibia had reached the final, and a possible promotion South Africa. South Africa were however much stronger Immanuel Naidjala beat Cebo Ngema to win the WBA interim, to Group 2, after having played in Group 3 for more than in the final, winning the gold medal with a 6-0 victory. bantamweight title. a decade. They however lost the final, 2-0 to Egypt to Namibia’s Petro Stoffberg won the goal keeper of the remain in Group 3. tournament award.

Johannes Nambala won gold in the T13 200m at the IPC Athletics Beata Naigambo Gaby Ahrens Championship in Doha, Qatar.

Namibian captain Stephen Baard in action against Kenya. Namibian captain Maggie Mengo (left) in action against Australia. 27 October 2016 4 Namibia Sport Awards

JANUARY 2016 1,01 seconds ahead of medal and one senior JUNE 2016 Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu bronze medal. Namibia win six of Rwanda. MAY 2016 Ambunda loses world medals at Africa MARCH 2016 title Archery Champs Namibia fourth at Jonas, Hamunyela World Rugby u20 Paulus Ambunda lost his Namibian archers won qualify for Olympic Trophy IBO Super Bantamweight six medals at the Africa Games title when he lost a Archery Championships Namibia finished unanimous points decision which Namibia hosted at Namibian boxers fourth at the World Rugby to Flores Moises of Mexico the DTS Sport Grounds. In Junius Jonas and Mathias u20 Trophy after losing in Windhoek on 11 June. the individual compound Hamunyela qualified 44-30 to Fiji in the third The three judges scored category Francois Marais for the Rio Olympic place playoff in Harare, the bout 114-111, 115- won a gold medal, Games after winning Zimbabwe on 1 May. 112, 115-110 in favour of Beanta Viviers silver gold and silver medals Earlier, Namibia finished Moises, who had also put and Ilana Malan bronze, respectively at the African second in Group B after his WBO Interim Super while Namibia won two Olympic Qualification beating the United States Bantamweight title on the silver and one bronze tournament in Yaounde, 46-44 and Hong Kong line in a unification ‘Super medal in the Compound Cameroon. Jonas won the 70-8, but losing 40-22 to Fight.’ Team events. Namibia, gold medal in the 64kg Spain. however, failed to make welterweight category Namibia won six medals at the Africa Archery Championship Namibia third at an impact in the Recurve after his opponent Zimbabwe Nations Cup competition which served withdrew due to injury. win Cossasa as the qualifier for the Hamunyela reached the Championships Namibia finished third at 2016 Olympic Games. 56kg bantamweight final the World Rugby Nations after beating Sibusiso Zimbabwe successfully Cup in Romania, after Junias wins gold at Bandla of South Africa defended their coming from behind to Zone 4 Champs in the semifinals. Confederation of School beat Emerging Italy 38- Hamunyela, however, had Sport Associations of 26 on 19 June. It was Jonas Junias won a to withdraw from the final Southern Africa (Cossasa) Namibia’s second victory gold medal at the Zone after picking up an injury Athletics Championships at the tournament after they 4 Championships in in his semifinal victory, title after storming to the beat Spain 34-32 on 13 Maputo, Mozambique on but as the losing finalist top on the last day of the June, while they finished 29 January. Competing and silver medallist he competition on 15 May. level on points with in the 64kg category, also qualified for the Zimbabwe came first second placed Argentina Junias beat a South Olympics. with a total of 55 medals but with an inferior points African opponent in the (21 gold, 20 silver and 14 difference. In their first final, dominating all Adrian third in Cape bronze), while Namibia match on 9 June, Namibia three rounds. Matthias Town Cycle Tour came second with 52 lost 20-8 to the eventual Hamunyela (49kg medals (18 gold, 19 champions, Romania, who category) and Lazarus Vera Adrian came silver and 15 bronze) and beat Argentina XV 20-8 in Shaningwa (60kg third in senior women’s Botswana third with 26 the final. category) both won category of the Cape Town medals in total. bronze medals after losing Cycle Tour on 2 March. Namibian women their semifinal fights. Adrian stayed with the Jarmann wins Jonas Junias (right) won a gold medal in Cameroon to qualify for the Olympic Vera Adrian eighth at Inline World leading group of female WBA African junior Games Champs FEBRUARY 2016 cyclists throughout the middleweight title race and in a sprint to the Namibia’s senior Junior cricketers line, finished third behind Anthony Jarmann women’s Inline Hockey make history South Africa’s Anli won the vacant WBA team finished eighth and Kachelhoffer and Lynette Pan African junior Namibia’s Junior Men 15th Namibia’s u19 cricket Burger. All three cyclists middleweight title in at the FIRS Inline Hockey team made history in completed the 109km Windhoek on 22 May Championships, which Fatullah, Bangladesh race in a time of 2 hours when he beat Christiano concluded in Italy on 19 on 11 February when 51 minutes 26 seconds. Ndombassy of Angola on June. Namibia’s women they beat Nepal by 15 Adrian’s Namibian team a seventh round technical lost narrowly against runs to finish seventh at mate Michelle Vorster knock out. Jarmann the United States (6-4) the u19 Cricket World finished ninth overall in dominated from the start and Finland (4-3) in the Cup. By finishing as the the Elite Women’s race, and built up a big points positional play-off matches, top Associate member more than three minutes lead with his strong jab. before losing 6-4 to Italy in country at the Word Cup, behind in 2:54:43. Ndombassy didnt have the seventh-place play-off. Namibia automatically much to offer and by the Namibia’s Junior Men’s qualified for the 2018 Egypt, South Africa end of the sixth round team finished 15th overall World Cup along with win u21 Africa decided he had enough after beating Latvia 6-4 the ten Test playing hockey titles and failed to come out for in the 15th place play-off nations. Namibia caused the seventh round. match. the biggest shock of Egypt won the men’s Namibia’s u19 cricket team finished seventh at the Junior Cricket World Cup the tournament when title and South Africa Utoni wins WBO South Africa win they beat the defending the women’s title at International Junior Cosafa Cup champions South Africa the Africa u21 Hockey flyweight title by two wickets in the Championships which South Africa won a group stages on 31 ended in Windhoek on 28 Japhet Uutoni won the fourth Cosafa Castle Cup January. They also beat March. In the men’s final, WBO International Junior title with a 3-2 victory Scotland by nine wickets Egypt beat South Africa flyweight title when he over Botswana in the 2016 and lost by eight wickets 3-2, while South Africa beat Bongani Silila of final at Windhoek’s Sam to Bangladesh to reach thrashed Zimbabwe South Africa on a tenth Nujoma Stadium on 25 the quarterfinals for the 10-0 in the women’s round technical knockout June. Gift Motupa scored first time, where they lost final. Namibia’s women in Limpopo on 6 May. two penalties for SA to by 197 runs against the suffered a shock 2-1 Both boxers gave a great go with a further strike losing finalists, India. defeat against Zimbabwe display in an action- by Thabiso Kutumela as in the semifinals, while packed fight, but Uutoni South Africa joined Zambia Adrian wins gold to Namibia’s men lost 5-3 to grew stronger as the fight and Zimbabwe on four claim Olympic spot the same opponents in the progressed. By the tenth Japhet Uutoni (right) won the WBO International titles each at the top of semifinals. round he put Silila down the all-time table. Earlier, Vera Adrian made with a body shot, and junior flyweight title on 6 May Swaziland claimed the APRIL 2016 history when she won although Silila pretended Above: Anthony Jarmann won bronze medal after beating the Women’s Road Race it was a low blow, the the guest nation DR Congo at the Africa Cycling Seidler breaks referee stopped the fight the WBA Pan African junior 1-0. The hosts, Namibia six records at SA Championships in and declared Uutoni the middleweight title on 22 May won the Plate trophy after Casablanca, Morocco on National Aquatic winner by TKO. beating Zambia 1-0 in the 25 February. It was the Champs final on 24 June. Captain first time that a Namibian Ronald Ketjijere scored the female cyclist had won Phillip Seidler broke winner from the penalty gold at the continental six Namibian records at spot midway through the road race championships, the SA Aquatic National first half. while she also claimed Swimming Championship a first-ever spot for a and Olympic Trials, JULY 2016 Namibian female cyclist at which took place at the the Olympic Games. Two Kings Park Aquatics Namibia win Cosafa days earlier Adrian also Centre in Durban from 10 u17 title won the gold medal in the to 16 April. In total, Women’s Individual Time Seidler broke six Namibia beat South Trial. She won the gold Namibian records, Africa 3-1 on penalties medal by the narrowest of winning three youth gold Phillip Seidler broke six Namibian records at the SA Namibia (in white) beat Hong Kong 70-8 at the World Rugby following a full time score margins, finishing a mere medals, one youth bronze of 1-1 to win the Cosafa u17 Aquatic National Swimming Championships u20 Trophy Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 5 27 October 2016

JUNE 2016 title in Mauritius on 31 July. Jonas was arrested after Namibia had lost 4-0 to an alleged sexual assault Ambunda loses world SA during the group stages, of an Olympic Village title but gave a vastly improved house keeper. Jonas was display in the final before detained by the Brazilian Paulus Ambunda lost his claiming a deserved win in authorities on 7 August, IBO Super Bantamweight the shoot-out. Substitute but the NNOC managed title when he lost a Godwin Awaseb put to ensure his release into unanimous points decision Namibia 1-0 ahead midway custody of the Namibian to Flores Moises of Mexico through the first half but SA embassy in Brazil in time in Windhoek on 11 June. equalised through Thabiso for his opening fight on 11 The three judges scored Monyane with 20 minutes August. Despite giving the bout 114-111, 115- to go. The score remained a brave performance, the 112, 115-110 in favour of 1-1 till full time and the emotional stress had clearly Moises, who had also put match had to be decided on played a role and Junias his WBO Interim Super penalties, where Namibia’s was eliminated 3-0 on a Bantamweight title on the goalkeeper Josef Phillipus unanimous points decision line in a unification ‘Super was the hero, making against Hassan Amzile of Fight.’ several fine saves. France in the 64kg light welterweight category. Namibia won six medals at the Africa Archery Championship Namibia third at Disabled athletes shine The rest of Namibia’s Nations Cup in Olympians failed to make much of an impression at Namibia finished third at Namibian athletes the Rio Olympics. Jonas’ the World Rugby Nations excelled at the IPC Athletic partner Mathias Cup in Romania, after Grand Prix in Berlin, Hamunyela won his first Paulus Ambunda (right) lost his IBO Super Bantamweight title to Flores Moises on 11 June coming from behind to Germany on 16 and 17 round fight in the 49kg beat Emerging Italy 38- July, winning a total of 15 light flyweight category 26 on 19 June. It was medals, consisting of 10 but then lost 3-0 to Birzhan Namibia’s second victory gold, three silver and two Zhakypov of Kazakhstan. at the tournament after they bronze medals. Ananias Gaby Ahrens finished beat Spain 34-32 on 13 Shikongo and Lahja Ishitile ninth overall in the June, while they finished led the way with two gold Women’s Olympic Trap level on points with and a silver medal each, competition and narrowly second placed Argentina while Johannes Nambala missed out on a place in but with an inferior points and Elias Ndimulunde the final. In the Women’s difference. In their first won two gold medals each. Marathon on 14 August, match on 9 June, Namibia Johanna Benson won a gold Beata Naigambo came lost 20-8 to the eventual and a bronze medal. 41st in 2:36:32; Helalia champions, Romania, who Johannes 56th in 2:39:55 beat Argentina XV 20-8 in Namibia reign supreme and Alina Armas 75th in the final. at World Karate 2:44:20. On 21 August, Champs Mynhardt Kauanivi came Namibian women 70th in the men’s marathon eighth at Inline World Namibia finished at the in a time of 2:20:45. In Champs top of the medal standings cycling, Dan Craven failed at the 8th JSKA World to finish the Men’s Road Namibia’s senior Karate Championships Race, while he came 35th women’s Inline Hockey which took place in in the Men’s Time Trial. team finished eighth and Swakopmund on 16 and Vera Adrian also failed Namibia’s Junior Men 15th 17 July. Namibia amassed to complete the Women’s at the FIRS Inline Hockey a total of 154 medals, of Road Race, while Michelle Championships, which which 49 were gold, 54 Vorster failed to finish the South Africa celebrate after winning the Cosafa Castle Cup Photo: BackpagePix concluded in Italy on 19 silver and 51 bronze to Women’s Mountain Bike June. Namibia’s women finish ahead of second- race. lost narrowly against placed South Africa, who the United States (6-4) collected 68 medals overall, Moses wins WBO and Finland (4-3) in the and third-placed Scotland, Africa lightweight title positional play-off matches, who scooped 24. Reigning before losing 6-4 to Italy in senior world champion Paulus Moses won the seventh-place play-off. De Wet Moolman from the vacant WBO Africa Namibia’s Junior Men’s Namibia was one of two lightweight title after a team finished 15th overall outstanding performers at unanimous points decision after beating Latvia 6-4 the championships, and in his rematch against in the 15th place play-off won four gold medals in Thompson Mokwana match. the senior kumite, senior of South Africa at the kata, open kata and senior Windhoek Country Club on South Africa win team kumite disciplines 6 August. Moses won the Cosafa Cup to go with his two silvers fight comfortably enough, in open kumite and senior with all three judges scoring South Africa won a team kata. in his favour, 116-112, fourth Cosafa Castle Cup 117-112, 117-113. It was title with a 3-2 victory Namibia win Plate at a good night for Namibian over Botswana in the 2016 Universities Sevens boxers who all won their final at Windhoek’s Sam fights against foreign Nujoma Stadium on 25 Namibia’s Universities opponents. Immanuel June. Gift Motupa scored Sevens rugby team won the Naidjala beat Fadhili two penalties for SA to Plate trophy and finished Majiha of Tanzania to retain go with a further strike fifth overall after beating the WBO Intercontinental Namibia won the plate section Photo: BackpagePix by Thabiso Kutumela as Italy 20-0 at the World bantamweight title; Julius South Africa joined Zambia Universities Championship Indongo beat Fabian and Zimbabwe on four Rugby Sevens Tournament Lyimo of Tanzania on a titles each at the top of in Swansea, Wales on 9 first round TKO to retain the all-time table. Earlier, July. It was Namibia’s the WBO Africa junior Swaziland claimed the second victory against Italy welterweight title; Jeremia bronze medal after beating after they won 40-12 in Nakathila beat Jasper the guest nation DR Congo their group match on 7 July. Seroka of South Africa on 1-0. The hosts, Namibia In Namibia’s other group an eighth round TKO to won the Plate trophy after matches they beat the Czech win the WBO Africa junior beating Zambia 1-0 in the Republic 55-5, but lost 31- lightweight title; and Walter final on 24 June. Captain 14 to Australia and 31-5 to Kautondokwa beat Walter Ronald Ketjijere scored the Great Britain. In their first Dlamini of South Africa on winner from the penalty play-off match on 8 July, a first round TKO to win the spot midway through the they beat Malaysia 43-7 WBO Africa middleweight first half. after running in seven tries. title. Namibia win CAR JULY 2016 AUGUST 2016

Namibia win Cosafa Jonas nightmare Namibia comfortably u17 title overshadows Olympics beat Zimbabwe 60-22 to win the CAR Africa Cup Namibia beat South Namibia’s performances on 6 August. After leading Africa 3-1 on penalties at the Olympic Games were 29-0 at halftime, Namibia following a full time score overshadowed by events off ran in a total of nine tries of 1-1 to win the Cosafa u17 the field, after boxer Junias to complete a one-sided Janco Venter on the attack for Namibia against Kenya 27 October 2016 6 Namibia Sport Awards victory, although Zimbabwe comfortably, although Namibia fine form at the South African September when he came third finals, but failed to win a medal; made the final sore 2-0 to the came back with three second half came back to force a draw in the Short Course Championships in the Men’s T11 100m in an Lahja Ishitile competed in three Teranga Lions. Senegal easily tries. Namibian full back Johann final test. in Pietermaritzburg, South African record time of 11,11 events but failed to make the won the group with a maximum Tromp scored a race, and Rohan Africa, setting numerous seconds. Four days later he finals; Martin Aloisius was 18 points, while Burundi, Kitshoff, Renaldo Bothma, Gino Namibia win u19 Africa national records in the process. joined Johanna Benson in the eliminated in the first round in Namibia and Niger all finished Wilson Torsten van Jaarsveld Cup Alexander Skinner led the way history books as Namibia’s two events; and Moses Tobias on six points. and Justin Nel scored one with 13 Namibian records while second gold Paralympian when and Elias Ndimulunde both each, while Namibia were also Namibia qualified for the he qualified for two semifinals he won the Men’s T11 200m in competed in one event, being Bowls team narrowly awarded a penalty try. 2017 World Rugby u20 Trophy and three finals out of the seven a new Paralympic record time of eliminated in the first round; misses out on gold when they beat Zimbabwe 42- events that he participated in. 22,44 seconds. On 17 September, while Ruben Soroseb finished Namibian women shine 29 in the u19 Africa Cup final in Shikongo won a second bronze ninth in the Men’s 107kg Namibia narrowly missed out against SA Windhoek on 27 August. In an SEPTEMBER 2016 medal after finishing third in the Powerlifting competition. on winning their first-ever overall exciting match that ebbed and T11 400m final in a personal best gold medal at the African States South Africa’s women won flowed, Namibia won the try Paralympians excel in Rio time of 50,63 seconds. Johannes Brave Warriors lose to Bowls Tournament when both their annual indoor hockey count 6-4, but Zimbabwe pushed Nambala won two silver medals Senegal the men and women lost their test series against Namibia in them all the way. Namibia Namibia’s Paralympians in the Men’s T13 100m and final matches against Kenya on Durban, but they were pushed reached the final after thrashing excelled at the Paralympic 400m, while also breaking a Despite a gallant performance 14 September. South Africa won all the way by a committed Tunisia 64-0 on 24 August. Games in Rio from 7 to 18 world record in the process. against Senegal in Dakar, that gold in the men’s competition Namibian side. The two sides Namibia led 38-0 at halftime and September, winning five medals His first silver came in the included a penalty save by with 18 points, while Namibia weighed up evenly throughout eventually scored ten tries in a in total, consisting of a gold Men’s T13 100m on 9 September goalkeeper Max Mbaeva, the (17) won silver and Kenya the five-match series, with South one-sided romp. medal, two silver and two bronze in a time of 10,78 seconds, while Brave Warriors lost 2-0 in their (10) bronze. In the women’s Africa winning three tests and medals. his second silver came six days Afcon Group K qualifier on 3 competition, South Africa won Namibia one, while one was Skinner leads the way at Ananias Shikongo led the later when he broke the world September. Senegal led 1-0 the overall gold medal with drawn. South Africa’s men were SA Short Course Gala way with a gold and two bronze record with a time of 47,21. Of at halftime through a goal by 16 points while Namibia (15) however stronger then Namibia, medals. He opened his account Namibia’s other Paralympians, Ibrahima Balde, while a last won silver and Zimbabwe (12) winning the first four tests Namibian swimmers were in with a bronze medal on 11 Johanna Benson reached three minute penalty by Mame Diouf bronze.

Even Tjiviju (guide), Ananias Shikongo, Sem Shimanda (guide) and Johannes Nambala pose with Paulus Moses (left) beat Thompson Mokwana on points on 6 August their medals.

Immanuel Naidjala beat Cebo Ngema to win the WBA interim bantamweight title

Ernest Jacobs of Namibia in action against SA at the Hendrik Somaeb of the Brave Warriors in action against Burundi Africa u21 Hockey Championship. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 7 27 October 2016 GALLERY 27 October 2016 8 Namibia Sport Awards GALLERY Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 9 27 October 2016

NAMIBIA SPORTS AWARD NOMINEES 2016 27 October 2016 10 Namibia Sport Awards Nampower Sportsman with Disability of the Year

JOHANNES NAMBALA ANANIAS SHIKONGO RUBEN SOROSEB Johannes Nambala won two silver medals at Ananias Shikongo made history on 15 Ruben Soroseb has been Namibia’s top Paralympics September 2016 when he won a gold medal powerlifter for the past decade and this year qualified the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, while also in the Men’s T11 200m at the Rio Paralympic for his third Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil. breaking a world record in the process. Games. His debut at the Paralympic Games came in 2004 His first silver came in the Men’s T13 100m on In the process he became only Namibia’s second in Athens while he also qualified for the 2012 9 September. Jason Smyth of Ireland won the Paralympian gold medallist, following Johanna Paralympic Games in . Benson’s gold medal in the Women’s T37 200m gold medal in 10,64 seconds while Nambala in London 2012. With the weightlifting qualification for the won silver in an African record time of 10,78 Paralympic Games working on a four-year seconds. Shikongo won in a new Paralympic record time cycle, Soroseb had already qualified for the Rio of 22,44 seconds which was just 0,03 seconds Paralympics two years previously, when he came On September 15, Nambala broke the T11 outside the world record set by David Brown of fourth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a 400m world record, but was denied a gold the United States in 2014. weight of 205kg. medal by Mohamed Amguoun of Morocco who beat him in a dip to the line. Shikongo won a total of three medals at the Rio In July 2015 he participated at the All Africa Games Paralympics after also winning bronze medals in Congo-Brazzaville where he finished fifth with a in the T11 100m and 400m. weight of 200kg. Amguoun won gold in 47,15 seconds and Nambala silver in 47,21, while they both beat In the T11 100m final on 11 September, he the former world record of 47,83. finished third in an African record time of Injuries, however, disrupted his training and 11,11 seconds, and six days later he once again performances since then and he had to miss this finished third in the T11 400m final in a personal year’s SA Championships due to an injury to his Nambala also starred at the IPC Athletics best time of 50,63 seconds. back. World Championships in Doha, Qatar in October 2015, winning a gold and a bronze At the Rio Paralympic Games he competed in the Shikongo also represented Namibia at the 2015 medal. IPC Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar Men’s 107kg category where he came ninth out of in October 2015, where he won a silver medal 10 competitors after lifting a weight of 190kg. in the Men’s T11 200m after narrowly missing On October 26 he won gold in the T13 200m out on the gold medal. Felipe Gomes of Brazil Pavlos Mamalos of Greece won the gold medal with in a new African record time of 21,74 seconds won gold in 22,83 seconds while Shikongo won a weight of 238kg, while Ahmed Mohamed of Egypt and two days later he won bronze in the T13 silver in 22,84 seconds. won silver (233kg) and Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani of 400m in a season’s best time of 48,68 seconds. Iran bronze with 226kg. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 11 27 October 2016 Nampower Sportsman with Nampower Sportswoman with Disability of the Year Disability of the Year

JOHANNA BENSON Namibia’s 2012 Paralympian gold qualify for the final. where she came eighth in a time of IPC Athletic World Championships in medallist, Johanna Benson, once again The next day however she could only 1:12,35. October 2015, where she won a bronze represented her country at the 2016 finish seventh in the final, once again in The previous day she had come fourth medal in the Women’s T37 200m in a Paralympic Games. This time however a personal best time of 14,16 seconds, in her first round heat in 1:10,79. On season’s best time of 29,98 seconds. she failed to win a medal although she while Georgina Hermitage of Great September 14, Benson competed in At the South African SAPD Nedbank reached three finals. On 8 September she Britain won gold in a new world record the Women’s T37 long jump where she Championships in March 2016, Benson finished third in her T37 100m heat in a of 13,13. Benson also reached the final of came sixth with a distance of 3,61m. won three gold medals in the T37 100m, personal best time of 14,23 seconds to the Women’s T37 400m on 13 September Benson also represented Namibia at the 200m and 400m.

ROSA MANDJORO

Rosa Mandjoro represented Namibia at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships where she competed in the Women’s T13 200m final and finished sixth in a personal best time of 29,26 seconds.

Ilse Hayes of South Africa won the gold medal in 25,24 seconds, followed by Kim Crosby of the United States (25,93) and Sanaa Benhama of Morocco (26,35). Mandjoro also competed at the South African SAPD Championship in Bloemfontein in March 2016 where she won a gold medal in the Women’s T13 400m and a silver medal in the Women’s T13 200m.

Initially Mandjoro had seemed to qualify for the Rio Paralympic Games with her achievements in Bloemfontein, but she later did not make the final Namibian team to Rio. 27 October 2016 12 Namibia Sport Awards Nampower Junior Sportswoman with a Disability of the Year MATEUS KAMBUNDU

LAHJA ISHITILE KERTU AMUTENYA CAITLIN BOTHA Lahja Ishitile qualified for the Rio Paralympic The 18-year-old Kertu Amutenya is one of Caitlin Botha represented Namibia in swimming Games where she represented Namibia in three Namibia’s top up and coming disabled middle at the 2016 South African SAPD Nedbank events. and long distance runners in the T13 category. Championships where she completed five events. This year she excelled at the Paralympic Region The 19-year-old Ishitile reached the semifinals of

5 Trials at Rundu where she won gold medals in the Women’s T11 100m after finishing second in her the 800m and 1 500m to qualify for the Region 5 The 19-year-old Botha completed the 50m backstroke in 1:44,70 and the 100m backstroke first round heat on 7 September in a personal best u20 Youth Games which will be held in Angola time of 12,59 seconds. in December 2016. in 3:34,80.

She also excelled abroad, when she won a She completed the 50m breaststroke in 1:58,68 In the semifinals, Ishitile once again improved her silver medal at the SADC Marathon in Maputo, and the 200m breaststroke in 4:00,68. personal best time to 12,56 seconds, but she finished Mozambique. She also completed the 100m freestyle in last in her heat and failed to qualify for the final. 3:14,27, but was disqualified in the 50m “Kertu is a young upcoming athlete who is freestyle and the 50m butterfly. determined to make it in the future,” said On 12 September she came second in her T11 200m Namibia Paralympic Committee secretary first round heat in 25,61 seconds to qualify for the general Mike Hamukwaya. “Caitlin took part in her first international semifinals. She however failed to make the final Paralympic-approved event in March. The joy after coming third in her semifinal heat in 25,37. “During the Region 5 trials she was outstanding in her eyes was overwhelming as this is what she in all the events that she competed in, to progress always wanted to do, to compete against other to the Region 5 Youth Games in Angola in athletes,” said Namibia Paralympic Committee On 16 September she came second in her T11 400m December,” he added. secretary general Mike Hamukwaya. heat in 58,97 seconds, but failed to qualify for the final.

Ishitile also represented Namibia at the IPC World Championships in Doha, Qatar, but she failed to reach the T11 100m and 400m finals. Caitlin took part in her first international Paralympic- In March 2016 she competed at the South African approved event in March. The joy in her eyes was SAPD Nedbank Championships in Bloemfontein overwhelming as this is what she always wanted to do, where she won two gold medals in the T11 100m to compete against other athletes and 200m and bronze in the 400m. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 13 27 October 2016 Nampower Junior Sportswoman Nampower Junior Sportsman with a Disability of the Year with a Disability of the Year

MATEUS KAMBUNDU ALFRED ALBERTU

Mateus Kambundu is one of Namibia’s top Alfred Albertu is another one of Namibia’s up and coming disabled sprinters in the T11 up and coming disabled sprinters in the T11 category. category.

The 17-year-old Kambundu excelled at the The 16-year-old Albertu competed at the Paralympic Region 5 Trials in August at Rundu Paralympic Region 5 Trials in August at where he won three gold medals in the 100m, Rundu where he won three silver medals 200m and 400m to qualify for the Region 5 in the 100m, 200m and 400m to qualify for ABRAHAM HAFENANYE u20 Youth Games in Angola in December the Region 5 u20 Youth Games in Angola in 2016. December 2016. Abraham Hafenanye is one of Namibia’s top up and coming disabled middle distance athletes in “Mateus is a young upcoming athlete who “Alfred is an upcoming athlete who is the T13 category. is determined to make it in the future,” said achieving his goals and going after them with Mike Hamukwya, the secretary general of the enthusiasm,” said Mike Hamukwaya, the The 19-year-old Hafenanye won the gold medal Namibia Paralympic Committee. secretary general of the Namibia Paralympic at the Paralympic Region 5 Trials in August at Committee. Rundu, to qualify for the Region 5 u20 Youth “During the Region 5 trials he was an Games in Angola in December 2016. outstanding athlete who competed with “He worked hard to make it to the team and courage and determination in all his events,” reached his goal of qualifying for the upcoming He also excelled at the South African SAPD he added. Region 5 u20 Youth Games in Angola,” he Nedbank Championships in Bloemfontein in added. March 2016 when he won two gold medals.

He won gold in the Men’s T13 1 500m in a time of 4:42,84 and another gold in the 800m in a new South African record time of 2:10,92. He worked hard to make it to the team and

“His impressive achievements at a young age reached his goal of qualifying for the upcoming indicate that he is an exceptional athlete with a Region 5 u20 Youth Games in Angola. great future,” said Mike Hamukwya, the secretary general of the Namibia Paralympic Committee. 27 October 2016 14 Namibia Sport Awards MTC Sportsman of the Year

PAULUS AMBUNDA Vera Adrian made history when she won the Women’s Road Race at the Paulus Ambunda established himself of Africa Cycling Championships in as one of the top super bantamweight Mexico in a unification Casablanca, Morocco on 25 February. boxers in the world over the past year. ‘Super Fight’ with both his title and Flores’ It was the first time that a Namibian He won the IBO world super Interim WBA World female cyclist had won gold at the bantamweight title when he beat Leandro Super Bantamweight continental road race championships, Esperante of Argentina on a split decision titles on the line. while she also claimed a first-ever spot over 12 rounds in Windhoek on 1 August for a Namibian female cyclist at the 2015. The fight went the full Olympic Games. distance and Ambunda Four months later, he successfully put up a good contest, but The 120km road race in Ben Slimane, defended his IBO world super it was the Mexican Flores Morocco, came down to a sprint to the bantamweight title with a dominant who emerged victorious with line, with Adrian winning in 3 hours display against Jason Cooper of Australia a unanimous points decision. 39 minutes 48 seconds, while An-li at Ramatex in Windhoek. The three judges scored it 114- Kachelhoffer of South Africa came 111, 115-112, 115-110 in his second and Kimberley Le Court of Ambunda comfortably won the fight favour. Mauritius third. on a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds, with the judges scoring it 120- Ambunda is currently ranked 13th It was the second gold medal that 108, 115-113, 117-111 in his favour. in the world by the World Boxing Adrian had won at the Championships Association and 15th in the world after she won the Women’s Individual On 11 June 2016, Ambunda took on by the World Boxing Organisation. Time Trial two days earlier. She won

DE WET MOOLMAN De Wet Moolman had an exceptional outstanding performers at the championship. year competing for Namibia in the Japan Shotokan Karate Association He became the first Karate athlete to win four (JSKA) style over the past year. gold medals at a JSKA World Championship, while he also won two silver medals. At the Shotokan Karate Swakopmund Open Tournament in April 2016, he Moolman won four gold medals in the senior won two gold medals in the Senior kumite, senior kata, open kata and senior team Men’s category and two months kumite disciplines to go with his two silvers later he once again won two gold in open kumite and senior team kata. medals at the Namibia National Championship in Windhoek. In the process he also won gold medals at three consecutive JSKA World Championships in His most impressive 2012, 2014 and 2016. performances however came at the JSKA World Championship Moolman was also the assistant coach of the which Namibia hosted in Namibia national team that competed at the Swakopmund in July, where Region 5 Karate Championships in Zimbabwe he was one of the two in May 2016.

BEATA NAIGAMBO

MYNHARDT KAUANIVI Mynhardt Kauanivi distinguished himself as Iita’s previous record of 29:22,90 had Namibia’s top marathon runner over the past year. stood for 18 years, but Kauanivi gave In September 2015 he came 13th overall at the a great performance to improve it by Cape Town Marathon in a personal best time of more than 40 seconds, with a new time 2:18:24, which was well within the qualifying of 28:38,20. standard of 2:19:00 for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He also won the Swakopmund leg of the Old Mutual Victory Races series in a In 2016 Kauanivi warmed up for the Olympic personal best time of 1:05:06, and although Games with some impressive performances in he didn’t compete in the Keetmanshoop and Namibia and Botswana, while he also displayed Oshakati legs of the series, he came second his versatility over various distances. overall behind Thomas Reinhold. On 3 April he came second at the Gaberone Half On 21 August, Kauanivi competed at in the Marathon in Botswana in a fast time of 1:05:19 Men’s Marathon at the Rio Olympic Games, and a week later excelled at the Swakopmund where he came 70th in a time of 2:20:45, which Grand Prix where he smashed Reinhold Iita’s was 12:01 behind the winner, Eliud Kipchoge long-standing national 10 000m record. of Kenya. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 15 27 October 2016 MTC Sportswoman of the Year

VERA ADRIAN Vera Adrian made history when she the gold medal by the won the Women’s Road Race at the narrowest of margins, Africa Cycling Championships in finishing a mere 1,01 Casablanca, Morocco on 25 February. seconds ahead of Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu of It was the first time that a Namibian Rwanda. female cyclist had won gold at the continental road race championships, On 6 March, Adrian excelled while she also claimed a first-ever spot to finish third in the Elite for a Namibian female cyclist at the Women’s category of the Cape Olympic Games. Town Cycle Tour. The 120km road race in Ben Slimane, In a sprint to the line, Adrian Morocco, came down to a sprint to the finished third behind South line, with Adrian winning in 3 hours Africa’s Anli Kachelhoffer and 39 minutes 48 seconds, while An-li Lynette Burger, with all three Kachelhoffer of South Africa came cyclists completing the 109km race second and Kimberley Le Court of in a time of 2 hours 51 minutes 26 Mauritius third. seconds. It was the second gold medal that At the Rio Olympic Games, Adrian Adrian had won at the Championships competed in the 137km women’s road after she won the Women’s Individual race, but she was pulled off after about Time Trial two days earlier. She won 110km and failed to finish the event.

GABY AHRENS Shooter Gaby Ahrens qualified for her third overall in the Women’s Olympic Trap competition Olympic Games when she won the women’s and narrowly missed out on a place in the final for Olympic Trap division at the African the top eight. Shooting Championships in Cairo, Egypt on Ahrens hit 23 targets in round one, 22 in the second 29 November. and 21 in the third for a total of 66, which was one less than the eighth-placed shooter. After a long and exhausting day Ahrens emerged as the African champion when Australian Catherine Skinner won the gold medal, she beat her closest rivals from Egypt defeating New Zealand’s Natalie Rooney in the and Morocco to the gold medal. final. The final was a nerve-wracking affair Ahrens was the overall Namibian champion at the and fortunes swayed to and fro between Namibian Shooting Championships and in May Ahrens and her Moroccan opponent, 2016 won the overall gold medal at the South Mariem Rammah, but Ahrens finally African Olympic Trap National Championships in won the contest 15-10. Cape Town. On 7 August, Ahrens gave her best She also won several gold medals at various performance yet at the Olympic national trials throughout the year, and has Games when she finished ninth qualified for Namibian team selection at each trial.

BEATA NAIGAMBO Beata Naigambo established herself as Morocco’s Malika Asahssah came Namibia’s top female marathon runner over third in 2:28:02. the past year, during which she qualified for her third Olympic Games. With this achievement Naigambo also qualified for her third successive She excelled on the international stage when she Olympic Games after previous won the Valencia Marathon on 15 November appearances at 2008 and London 2015 for the second year in a row in a new 2012. record time of 2:26:58. Naigambo didn’t compete much in Her winning time was three seconds faster than 2016, due to her training programme the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Azalech for the Olympics, although she did win Woldeselasse in 2013, and nearly four minutes the 10km race at the Rossing Marathon in faster than her own winning time in 2014. Swakopmund in February 2016. It was also a new personal best for Naigambo, In August at the Olympic Games in Rio, who took 30 seconds off her previous mark of Naigambo was Namibia’s top performer in the 2:27:28 that she set at the Hamburg Marathon women’s marathon. this year. She finished 41st overall in a time of 2:36:32, Naigambo finished well ahead of Kenya’s which was well behind the winner from Kenya, Janet Rono, who was second in 2:27:34, while Jemima Sumgong who won in a time of 2:24:04. 27 October 2016 16 Namibia Sport Awards

MTC Junior Sportsman of the Year

HERBERT PETERS Herbert Peters distinguished himself the National Cycling as the top junior mountain biker on the Championships in African continent over the past year. February 2016, and the junior MTB title At the African Continental MTB Junior at the MTC National Championships at the AfrSki Mountain Championships in July Resort in Lesotho on 1 April 2016, he 2016. won the gold medal in the Junior Men’s category when he beat Henry Liebenberg He also excelled regionally, of South Africa by 27 seconds to the title. coming first overall in the Spur Schools MTB League At the same event he also won a gold in Magaliesburg, South medal in the Cross Country Team Relay Africa in October 2015. Championships along with Costa Seibeb, Michelle Vorster and Tristan de Lange. On 28 February he won the junior category at the Cape Town On 1 July 2016 he competed at the UCI Cycle Tour MTB Challenge, and MTB World Championships in the Czech a week later he came 8th in the Republic where he came 53rd in the Junior Junior Category at the Cape Town men’s category. Cycle Tour. A week later Peters competed at the Peters also excelled in triathlons. Albstadt Bike Marathon in Germany winning the FNB Desert triathlon where he won the u19 category and came in Swakopmund and the Xterra Lite 51st overall out of 2 500 cyclists. Buffelspoort race and coming third in Peters made a clean sweep of the Namibian the Xterra Lite Nelson Mandela Bay junior national titles, winning both the race. junior time trial and road race titles at

DELANO MULLER Delano Muller excelled in various sport codes over the past year, but his biggest The 12-year-old Muller, who is the youngest achievement came in kickboxing. black belt kick boxer in Namibia, also won a bronze medal at a senior inter-club tournament at In June 2016 he represented Namibia at Walvis Bay in August 2016. the Battle of Atlanta Championships in the United States where he won a gold medal Muller also represented Namibia in gymnastics in the Mixed Martial Arts category and at the Region V Gymnastics Championship in two bronze medals in the Crazy Fitness South Africa in December where he won a silver Challenge and Continuous Sparring medal. categories. Muller won several gold medals in national Muller also excelled at two regional gymnastics competitions in Namibia, including competitions in South Africa in May three Tumbling qualifying competitions, two 2016. Men’s Artistic Gymnastics competitions and a High Performance Level 2 competition. At the Jungle War VII International competition in , he won Muller, who attends the Dolphin Elementary two gold medals, and at the School at Walvis Bay, also competed in Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic swimming and athletics, and broke the 400m in Johannesburg he won two and 800m records at the Inter-House Athletics silver medals. meeting in 2016.

ROWAN BURGER Rowan Burger excelled as a karate exponent at the team to win the overall gold Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSKA) World medal, finishing well ahead of Championship that Namibia hosted for the first second-placed South Africa and time at Swakopmund in July 2016. third-placed Scotland. Burger became a world champion after winning In April, Burger won three gold three gold and one silver medal at the JSKA World medals at the Shotokan Karate Championship. Swakopmund Open Tournament in Swakopmund in the 15-year old Competing in the Male 15-year category, Burger individual category, in the Jiyu-Ippon won two individual gold medals in the Jiyu-Ippon Kumite, the Shobu Ippon Kumite, and Kumite and Kata categories. the Kata categories. He also won a gold medal in the 13-15 year Team Two months later he once again won three Kata category, and a silver medal in the 13-15 year gold medals in the 15-year old individual Jiyu-Ippon Team Kumite category. category at the Shotokan Karate Namibia National Championship in Windhoek, in Competing against more than 1 000 karatekas from the Jiyu-Ippon Kumite, the Shobu Ippon numerous countries, Burger helped the Namibian Kumite and the kata categories. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 17 27 October 2016

MTC Junior Sportswoman of the Year

CASSANDRA KNOUWDS Cassandra Knouwds became a world Bay, and in April champion for the third time when she 2016 she won a won a gold medal at the JSKA Karate gold and a silver World Championships at Swakopmund medal at the Coastal in July 2016. Championships at Swakopmund. She had previously won gold medals at the 2012 JSKA World Championships In June 2016 she won two in Mexico and at the 2014 JSKA World gold medals at the Shotokan Championships in Italy. National Championships in Windhoek and in September In Swakopmund, Knouwds won a 2016 she won two silver gold medal in the Shobu Ippon Kumite medals at the Namibia Karate category for 16-17 year olds, while she Union National Championships also won a silver medal in the Kata 16-17 in Windhoek. year old individual category. Knouwds also excelled in cycling Knouwds also excelled at numerous during 2016, coming second in karate events throughout Namibia over the Junior Female category at the past year. the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in February, and 25th in the Junior In October 2015 she won to gold medals Female category at the Cape Town at the Coastal Championships at Walvis Cycle Tour in March.

MAYVONNE SWART Mayvonne Swart excelled at the JSKA Karate Competing at the Shotokan Karate Swakopmund World Championships which Namibia Open tournament in April 2016, she won three hosted at Swakopmund in July 2016 when gold medals in the 14-year individual category, in she became a triple world champion. the Jiyu-Ippon Kumite, Shobu Ippon Kumite and Kata events, while she also won a gold medal in Competing in the 14-year-old category, the team event. she won one gold medal for Kata and two gold medals for Kumite. Two months later, Swart once again won three gold medals in the 14-year Individual category at the Besides that, she also won a silver medal Shotokan Karate Namibia National Championship in the team kata category for females in Windhoek. aged 13-15 years. In September 2016, she won one gold medal in Swart also excelled at various karate the 14-year individual Kata event at the Namibia competitions throughout Namibia Amateur Karate Union National Championship in over the past year. Windhoek.

DUNELLE VAN TAAK Dunelle van Taak distinguished herself as one of behind South Africa and Zimbabwe. Namibia’s top hockey players over the past year, during which she represented Namibia at u18, In August 2016 she once again starred u21 and at senior level. for the senior team in their annual Test series against South Africa in Durban, In October 2015 she represented Namibia’s senior where Namibia won one match, drew team at the FIH Africa Hockey Championships one and lost three matches. in Johannesburg where Namibia came fourth. Van Taak also represented Namibia Two months later she once again starred for the in netball, making the Namibian u19 senior team in a Four Nations Tournament in team that competed at the South African Durban, scoring the winning goal in their historic Schools Netball Championships in June, 3-2 victory against South Africa, while Namibia while she won the national schools hockey also beat the USA to finish second overall. and netball league titles with her school team, WHS. In March 2016 she represented Namibia at the Africa u21 Hockey Championships, where She also excelled at athletics, breaking her Namibia narrowly missed out on a place at school’s 400m record and was selected to the the World Championships after coming third Zone B athletics team. 27 October 2016 18 Namibia Sport Awards NBL Sport Team of the Year

WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM Namibia’s women’s hockey team made South Africa winning three history by beating South Africa and tests and Namibia one, finishing second at an international Four while one was drawn. Nations Hockey tournament in Durban in December 2015. Namibia beat South Africa 2-0 on 19 August, but SA won Namibia beat South Africa 3-2 on 17 three tests 2-0, 2-0 and 2-1, December to record their first-ever victory while one ended in a goalless against their southern neighbours in South draw. Africa, while they also finished second in the tournament. In October 2015, Namibia’s women finished fourth at the FIH Namibia also beat the United States 3-2, Africa Hockey Championships in but lost 2-1 to Australia to finish second in Johannesburg, South Africa. the group and qualify for the final against South Africa, where they lost 6-0. Namibia’s women won three matches In August 2016, Namibia and South against Nigeria (3-1), Zimbabwe (2- Africa played a five-Test series in Durban, 1) and Tanzania (11-0), but lost three and although South Africa emerged matches against South Africa (5-0), victorious, they were pushed all the way Kenya 2-0) and Ghana (1-0). by Namibia. By September 2016, Namibia’s indoor The two sides weighed up evenly team had climbed three places to 14th in throughout the five-match series, with the world.

PARALYMPIC RELAY TEAM Namibia’s Paralympic relay team made where they once again won the gold medal in a history on 19 June when they qualified for the time of 45,14 seconds. Paralympic Games for the first time. At the Paralympic Games in Rio, the Namibian The Namibian team of Johannes Nambala, team came second in their First Round heat in a Ananias Shikongo, Aloysius Martin, Tobias new African record time of 43,49 seconds - which Moses and their guides Even Tjiviju was one second faster than their previous best and Andre Oberholster qualified at an time. international event in Madrid, Spain when they won the relay event in a personal They qualified for the final but narrowly missed best time of 44,49 seconds which was out on a medal when they finished fourth in 43,66 well within the Olympic qualifying seconds. time of 45,00 seconds. Brazil won the gold medal in a new Paralympic The following month the Namibian Games record of 42,37 seconds, while China team participated at an IPC Athletics won the silver medal in 43,05 and Uzbekistan the Grand Prix in Berlin, Germany bronze medal in 43,47 seconds.

SENIOR RUGBY TEAM Namibia gave their best performance yet when After leading 29-0 they competed at their fifth consecutive Rugby at halftime, Namibia World Cup in England in September and October ran in a total of nine 2015. tries to complete a one-sided victory. Namibia once again lost all their matches, but they gained their first-ever bonus point in a narrow 17- Namibia also beat 16 defeat to Georgia. Uganda 40-31 on 1 July and Kenya 56-21 on 16 Namibia lost their other group matches 58-14 July in the CAR Africa to New Zealand, 35-22 to Tonga and 64-19 to Cup tournament. Argentina. Against Uganda, Namibia In June 2016, Namibia came third at the World scored a total of six tries, Rugby Nations Cup in Romania, after beating while fly half Theuns Kotze Emerging Italy 38-26. It was Namibia’s second added five conversions, and victory at the tournament after they beat Spain against Kenya they ran in eight 34-32 and lost 20-8 to the eventual champions, tries with Kotze converting all of Romania. them. In August, Namibia successfully defended their By September 2016, Namibia CAR Africa Cup with an emphatic 60-22 victory moved up one place on the Rugby against Zimbabwe. World rankings to 20th in the world. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 19 27 October 2016 NBL Sport Team of the Year FNB Most Improved Sportsperson of the Year

JOHANNES NAMBALA

Johannes Nambala won two On September 15, Nambala the IPC Athletics World silver medals at the 2016 Rio broke the T11 400m world Championships in Doha, Paralympic Games, while also record, but was denied a gold Qatar in October 2015, breaking a world record in the medal by Mohamed Amguoun winning a gold and a bronze process. of Morocco who beat him in a medal. dip to the line. His first silver came in On October 26 he won gold the Men’s T13 100m on 9 Amguoun won gold in 47,15 in the T13 200m in a new September. Jason Smyth of seconds and Nambala silver African record time of 21,74 Ireland won the gold medal in in 47,21, while they both beat seconds and two days later he 10,64 seconds while Nambala the former world record of won bronze in the T13 400m won silver in an African record 47,83. in a season’s best time of time of 10,78 seconds. Nambala also starred at 48,68 seconds.

MATHIAS HAMUNYELA Mathias Hamunyela has qualified for the Rio Olympic the losing finalist and silver developed into one of Games after winning a silver medallist he also qualified for Namibia’s top amateur boxers medal at the African Olympic the Olympics. over the past year, making Qualification tournament in his mark at continental and Yaounde, Cameroon. At the Olympic Games in international level. Rio, Hamunyela got off to a Hamunyela reached the 49kg winning start when he In January 2016 he represented light flyweight category final beat Rufat Huseynov of Namibia at the Zone 4 after beating Sibusiso Bandla of Azerbaijan 3-0 in the 49kg Championships in Maputo, South Africa in the semifinals. category on 6 August. Two Mozambique, where he won Hamunyela, however, had days later, however, he was a bronze medal after losing his to withdraw from the final eliminated in the Round of 16 semifinal fight. after picking up an injury in when he lost 3-0 to Birzhan Two months later, Hamunyela his semifinal victory, but as Zhakypov of Kazakhstan

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TOBIAS HISKIA Tobias Hiskia has established himself Lavinia Haitope came as Namibia’s top long distance running second in the women’s coach, with several of his athletes 42km marathon excelling at home and abroad. and qualified for the Olympic Games with a Two of his athletes represented Namibia time of 2:40:46, but due at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. In the to the limit on athletes per women’s marathon on 14 August, Beata country and the fact that Naigambo finished 41st overall, while Namibia already had three Mynhardt Kauanivi finished 70th overall female marathon runners, in the men’s marathon a week later. Haitope could not go. The two athletes also excelled at other international events over the past year. Hiskia’s athletes have also excelled in local competitions In September 2015, Kauanivi qualified for with Haitope winning the overall the Olympic Games when he came 13th prize in the senior women’s at the Cape Town Marathon in 2:18:24, category at the 2016 Victory while two months later, Naigambo won Races series, while another one of the Valencia Marathon in a personal best his athletes, Leena Ekandjo came and new record time of 2:26:58. second overall. In April 2016, Kauanivi came second In the senior men’s category, in the 21km at the Diacore Marathon Kauanivi finished second overall, in Gaborone, Botswana. At the same despite only participating in two of the marathon, another one of his athletes, four events of the series.

MICHAEL HAMUKWAYA Michael Hamukwaya coached Namibia’s took a Namibian relay team to an international Para-athletic team that excelled on the event in Madrid, Spain where they made history international stage over the past year. by becoming the first Namibian relay team to qualify for the Olympics. A month later he In October 2015, Hamukwaya’s athletes took a Namibian para-athletics team to the IPC won one gold, two silver and one bronze Athletic Grand Prix in Berlin, Germany where medal at the IPC Athletics World they excelled by winning a total of 15 medals, Championships in Doha, Qatar. Johannes consisting of 10 gold, three silver and two bronze Nambala became a world champion for medals. the second time when he won the gold in the T13 200m. Two years earlier he In August 2016, Namibia’s Para-athletes excelled had won gold in the T13 400m in Lyon, at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by France. winning one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Ananias Shikongo became Namibia’s In March 2016, Hamukwaya second Paralympic gold medallist after Johanna coached the Namibian team that Benson by winning the men’s T11 200m, while excelled at the South African Open he also won two bronze medals in the T11 100m Championships in Bloemfontein, and 400m. where they won six gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Johannes Nambala won two silver medals in the In June 2016, Hamukwaya T13 100m and 400m.

ROGER THOMPSON Roger Thompson has developed into one of and to Phil Davies for Namibia’s Namibia’s top rugby coaches over the past few international campaign, with the years. He is the head coach of the Namibian u20 highlight being Namibia’s participation rugby team that came fourth at the World Rugby at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. At the u20 Trophy in Harare in May 2016. World Cup, Namibia lost all four its Namibia finished fourth after losing 44-30 to Fiji group matches, although they gained a in the third-place playoff. first-ever bonus point in a 17-16 defeat to Georgia. Earlier, Namibia finished second in Group B after This year, the senior team once again beating the United States 46-44 and Hong Kong retained the Africa Cup when they beat 70-8, but losing 40-22 to Spain. In August 2016, Zimbabwe 42-29 in August, after they had Namibia once again qualified for the 2017 World earlier beaten Kenya 56-21 and Uganda 40- Rugby u20 Trophy when they beat Zimbabwe 31. 42-29 in the u19 Africa Cup final in Windhoek, after earlier beating Tunisia 64-0 in the semifinal. In June, Namibia once again competed at the Nations Cup in Bucharest, Romania where they Thompson was also heavily involved with the came third after beating Emerging Italy 38-26. senior national team, acting as assistant coach Namibia also beat Spain 34-32, but lost 20-8 to to John Williams for the campaign, the eventual champions Argentina XV. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 21 27 October 2016 Coca Cola Umpire/Referee of the Year

DANIE KOEN Danie Koen is one of Namibia’s top rugby Welwitschias’ referees who has officiated at international Currie Cup level this year. He is one of only three qualifying referees in Namibia that holds a World campaign, and Rugby Level 3 accreditation. in August 2016 he officiated as Internationally, he represented Namibia an assistant referee at the Africa Cup Sevens tournament at the u19 Africa in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2016, Cup tournament in where he was rated as the top referee at Windhoek. the tournament. However, since Namibia played in the final against Uganda, he was At the end of October not allowed to officiate in the final. 2016, Koen will officiate as a referee at a Super He also officiated as an assistant referee Sevens tournament at the u19 Africa Cup tournament in in South Africa, and in Windhoek in August. December 2016 he will officiate as a referee at the In 2016 he officiated as an assistant Dubai International Sevens referee in numerous matches during the tournament.

BERTHOLD KARUMENDU Berthold Karumendu is one of Namibia’s top 20th Senior Athletics Championship in Durban, athletics technical officials and had a busy South Africa. year officiating at home and abroad during 2016. A month later he obtained a starter certificate at the International Association of Athletics Federations In May he was the chief technical official (IAAF) Starters Seminar that took place in Nairobi. at the Namibia National Track and Field He is currently the highest certified IAAF athletics Championships in Windhoek, while official in Namibia and is always available to he also served as a technical official at ensure that Namibia’s athletics competitions meet various Namibia School Sport Union IAAF standards. events and regional championships. In June 2016 Karumendu served as Karumendu is also actively involved in organising a technical official at continental athletics events in smaller towns of Namibia, with level when he officiated at the the Karibib Half Marathon and the Omaruru Street Confederation of African Athletics’ Mile growing in popularity in recent years.

JACKSON PAVAZA Jackson Pavaza has developed into Namibia’s a key official at the 2016 Cosafa Castle top football referee over the past year, serving Cup in Windhoek from 11 to 25 June. Namibia with distinction on the African continent. In November 2015, he officiated as the referee He officiated as referee for the matches at the Fifa World Cup qualifying match between between Madagascar and Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Swaziland in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. and Angola and Mauritius, while he was a reserve referee for the matches between On 12 March 2016 he was the referee for the Seychelles and Madagascar, DRC and African Champions League match between Mozambique; Botswana and DRC; and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and AC Swaziland and DRC. of DRC in Pretoria, and a fortnight later he was the referee for the Afcon qualifying match In August he was the referee for the Hage between Rwanda and Mauritius in Kigali. Geingob Cup match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, while he also In May he successfully completed a Fifa MA refereed the Namibian Super Cup final between Refereeing Course in Windhoek, while he was African Stars and Tigers in September. 27 October 2016 22 Namibia Sport Awards Lifetime Award ISMAEL ‘LEMMY’ NARIB Lemmy Narib started and Hans Eichab. In 1969 legends like Jomo Sono while his passion for youth like Tenerius Lombard and winning the Scorpion Zinc playing football in 1959 he played for the central and Shakes Mashaba. He development later saw him Oswaldo Xamseb. Cup. Currently he is still as a 15-year-old at the Old team against Kaizer 11, was a prolific goal scorer joining the Youth Football Narib also became an involved with Namibia Location for Ramblers, scoring 12 goals in three and is said to have scored Programme. He formed integral member of the Premier League club before going on to play matches and was scouted 999 goals in his playing the Lemmy Academy in Khomas regional junior Orlando Pirates, while he for Try Again in Katutura. by Kaizer Motaung. Narib career which lasted 19 2007 before he joined the teams, with the Khomas has continued his passion In 1963 he co-founded however signed for Orlando years from 1959 to 1978. Collin Benjamin Soccer u20 team twice winning for youth development by Orlando Pirates in Namibia Pirates in South Africa in After his playing career he Academy where he worked The Namibian Newspaper working with the youth in along with Erlae Klaassen 1971 where he played with established Black Pirates, with future national players Cup and the u17 team once the Dolam location. Namibia Sport AwardsNamibia Sport Awards 23 27 October 2016 GALLERY

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