Coventry up for top AU awards

SEVEN-TIME Olympic medallist Kirsty Coventry is up for the Sportsperson and Sportswoman of the Year awards at the inaugural African Union Sports Council Region Five Regional Annual Sports Awards set for this weekend in South Africa. Coventry is among several local athletes vying for various accolades at the regional awards at Birchwood Conference Centre in Johannesburg tomorrow.

The Region Five is made up of 10 countries in the Southern African Region - Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Accolades will be bestowed upon athletes, coaches, member countries, journalists and teams who have excelled in sport at regional level. The swimming sensation scooped three gold medals during last year's African Games in Congo Brazzaville. She got gold in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 200m IM events.

Coventry has also qualified for the Olympic Games in the 100m and 200m backstroke. The Zimbabwean swimmer made it into the finalists' shortlist together with athlete Admilsa Governo of Mozambique and South Africa's cyclist, Ashleigh Pasio Moolman for both awards.

Other Zimbabweans in the run for the awards include boxer, Charles Manyuchi, who is up for the Sportsman of the Year award. He was nominated for successfully defending the bronze World Boxing Council International welterweight title in Italy last year.

AUSC Region Five Awards finalists

 
Sportsperson of the Year

Kirsty Coventry (swimming, Zimbabwe), Edmilsa Governo (athletics, Mozambique), Ashleigh Pasio Moolman (cycling, South Africa)

Sportswoman of the Year

Kirsty Coventry (swimming, Zimbabwe), Edmilsa Governo (athletics, Mozambique), Ashleigh Pasio Moolman (cycling, South Africa)

Sportsman of the Year

Wayde van Niekerk (athletics, South Africa), Charles Manyuchi (boxing, Zimbabwe), Pio Matos (basketball, Mozambique)

Junior Sportsman of the Year

Tristan de Lange (cycling, Namibia), Baboloki Thebe (athletics, Botswana), Kyle Hinde (rowing, Zimbabwe)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

Naomi Ruele (Swimming, Botswana), Tanyaradzwa Muzinda (motor racing, Zimbabwe), Erin Gallagher (swimming, South Africa)

Sportsman of the Year with a Disability

Ruben Gowaseb (athletics, Namibia), Lucas Sithole (tennis, South Africa), Luck Chitimbe (athletics, Zimbabwe)

Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability

Johanna Benson (athletics, Namibia), Ilse Hayes (athletics, South Africa), Dadirai Jack (golf Special Olympics, Zimbabwe)

Sports Team of the Year

Athletics 4x400m men's relay (athletics, Botswana), Senior Netball National team (netball, Zimbabwe), Rugby Sevens (rugby, South Africa)

Coach of the Year

Graham Hill (swimming, South Africa), Ledwin Dondo (netball, Zimbabwe), Bernado Matsimbe (basketball, Mozambique)

Journalist of the Year

Sheefeni Nicodemus (Namibia), Farai Machamire (Zimbabwe), Batho Bareng Kortjaas (South Africa)

Confederation of the Year

Swimming, Tennis, Basketball.

Region Five Award

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho.