Looser and Marais take 2024's top honours
Namibia Sports Awards
The Namibia Sports Commission celebrated its 20th Namibia Annual Sport Awards in a dazzling ceremony that honoured the nation’s top achievers for 2024, held at the Windhoek Country Club on Friday night.Stephanus Francois Marais junior, hunting rifle world champion, was crowned sportsman of the year.
In addition, Marais accepted the Team of the Year award on behalf of the Namibian hunting rifle shooting team, who won the world championship hosted near Otjiwarongo during June this year – beating South Africa, Czech Republic and Sweden.
Marais said: “This achievement reflects the unwavering support from family, friends and teammates. Your belief fuels my passion and dedication. I am proud to represent my country on a global stage and I hope to inspire others to pursue the same resilience. Here’s to more challenges ahead in this incredible sport that has given me so much.”
For the second consecutive year, Vera Looser, Namibia’s UCI Marathon World Cup Series mountain biking champion, was named Sportswoman of the Year. Looser also claimed the coveted overall Sports Achiever Award, cementing her status as an exemplary national ambassador.
Looser said: “I’m so overwhelmed. I did not see this coming; there are so many phenomenal athletes in Namibia. I’ve been nominated before, but this is the first time I’ve been able to attend this wonderful event.”
Para-athletes and junior stars
Lahja Ishitile, who set a new Paralympic Games record in Paris while winning the gold medal in the T11 class 400 metres alongside her guide Sem Shimanda, was deservedly named sportswoman of the year with a disability.
Ishitile also took the NSC Chairmen’s Award.
Accepting her award, Ishitile said: “I didn’t hesitate when I heard my name being announced. I knew it was mine. I’ve worked hard, and God has rewarded me.”
Para sprinter Chris Kinda was named Sportsman of the Year with a disability, edging out fellow contenders Johannes Nambala, Petrus Karuli and Ananias Shikongo.
Among the rising stars, Delsia Janse van Vuuren, a junior African mountain biking champion this year, was awarded Junior Sportswoman of the Year. She said: “I’m really grateful for the award and happy to have won it.” She also confirmed her entry in a four-person team for her second Nedbank Desert Dash in December.
Junior sportsman of the year: Magano Naseb (athletics; sprinter).
Junior sportswoman of the year with a disability: Namasiku van der Linden (swimming).
Junior sportsman of the year with a disability: A tie between Isack David, Zekka Chikumbe and Shapumba Amavila who share the award following their gold-medal performances at the National Youth Games.
Wall of Fame sporting legends
A new highlight of the evening was the unveiling of Namibia’s Wall of Fame, honouring the nation’s sporting icons. The three inaugural inductees were:
Harry Simon, Namibia’s first boxing world champion in 1998.
Frank Fredericks, a legendary world champion sprinter and four-time Olympic silver medallist.
Agnes Samaria, a two-time Olympic middle-distance runner and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.
The Wall of Fame will be permanently placed at a yet-to-be-built national sports stadium, with three inductees added annually, according to Namibia Sports Commission chief administrator Freddy Mwiya.
Life-time recognition awards by the NSC went to wheelchair athlete Paulus Frans; 28-year former NSC employee Charlotte Jantze; two-time Olympic swimmer Monica Dahl Bohm, who also serves on committees for swimming, gymnastics and the Frank Fredericks Foundation; and Hasso Ahrens, former Springbok footballer and later coach and administrator in shooting.
Recognitions
Football star Deon Hotto was named professional sports star of the year in the diaspora.
“Deon has contributed to Orlando Pirates winning two trophies this season. As the joke goes, he is so versatile that they have used him in every position, including behind the goalkeeper,” said the NFA’s Isack Hamata who accepted the trophy on his behalf.
The Federation of the Year was awarded to Cricket Namibia for their exemplary leadership in sports administration.
Paralympics team coach Letu Hamhola was named Coach of the Year, while the Namibia Cycling Federation’s RMB Kids on Bike Programme claimed the Development Programme of the Year.
Referee of the year: Twanyanyukwa Antsino (football).
Digital sports journalist of the year: Brian Munango (Sport Wrap).
Broadcast sports journalist of the year: Michael Ditu (NBC).
Print sports journalist of the year: Limba Mupetami (New Era).