Tanzania will Friday celebrate the best of 2013/14 as athletes compete for the Sports Personality of the year Awards at the Diamond Jubilee VIP Hall in Dar es Salaam.
President Ali Mohamed Shein
Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, will grace the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (TASWA) organised event, in which Kalunde Band of Dar es Salaam will entertain the show.
The Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Fenella Mukangara, will also attend the awards gala night. TASWA Secretary General, Amir Mhando, said yesterday that all necessary preparations for the annual event are complete.
Last week, Electronic payment system firm, Selcom Wireless announced a 30m/- sponsorship package for the eagerly awaited event.
Other firms which have contributed towards the gala are Said Salim Bakhressa (SSB) group of companies, which has dished out 10m/- and Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL), who has provided 20m/-.
The list also has the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) who have injected 2m/- and 5m/- respectively, making the total contribution so far to reach 67m/-.
TASWA officials said they need at least 100m/- to successfully stage the gala. The event will see a total of 47 awards being presented to athletes who will emerge winners of the categories they have been selected to compete.
Young Africans dependable central defender Nadir Haroub, Simba striker Elias Maguri and the reigning Vodacom Premier League champions Azam FC midfielder Erasto Nyoni are vying for the Best Footballer of the Year Award.
Maguri has been nominated due to his superb performance while serving his former club, Ruvu Shooting, in last season’s league in which he emerged the second best goal scorer.
The Best Foreign Footballer Award is contested by last season’s top goal scorer, Simba’s Burundian international striker Amis Tambwe, Azam FC’s Ivorian roving striker Kipre Tchetche and Yanga fullback Mbuyu Twite.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side TP Mazembe duo Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu and cyclist Richard Laizer, who is based in South Africa, vie for the Best Tanzanian Professional Footballer Award. Sophia Mwasikili, Sherida Boniface and Amina Ally vie for the Best Women Footballer of the Year Award.
Other nominees are: Amateur boxing: Fabian Gaudence, Ahmed Furahisha and Ally Abdul Ahmed. Professional boxing: Francis Cheka, Ramadhan Shauri and Said Mbelwa.
Athletics: Zakia Mrisho, Jacqueline Sakilu and Catherine Lange (women); Alphonce Felix, Dickson Marwa and Fabian Nelson (men). Basketball: Lusajo Samwel and Erick Mchemba (men); Rehema Silomba, Orlyn Titus and Sajda Ahmed (women).
Hockey: Yohana Wilson, Focus Paul and Deep Vaja (men); Valentina Quarantta, Kidawa Seremala and Mary Mhina (women). Netball: Doritha Mbunda, Berina Kazinja and Andressa Andrea: Cycling: Salome Donald, Martha Anthon and Sophia Adson (women); Richard Laizer, Hamisi Mskala and Gerald Konda (men).
Professional golfers: Hassan Kadio, Yassin Salehe and Geoffrey Leverian. Amateur golfers: Nuru Mollel, Abasi Adam and Frank Mwinuka (men); Madina Iddi, Hawa Wanyeche and Angel Eaton (women).
Volleyball: Kelvin Peter Severino, Nassoro Sharifu and Athuman Rupia (men); Yasinta Remmy, Hellena Richard and Teddy Abwao (women).
Handball: Hemedi Salehe, Msafiri Makoti and Abinery Kusena (men); Veronica Mapunda, Subira Omary and Mwajabu Lugato (women). Upcoming athletes: Omari Sulle (tennis), Sheridah Boniface (women football) and Azam’s Aishi Manula (men’s football).
Judo: Kombo Masoud Amour, Mbarouk Mbarouk Suleiman (men); Grace Alfonce Mhanga and Salma Omari Othman (women).
Tennis: Tumaini Martin, Emmanuel Malya and Omari Sulle (men); Rehema Athumani, Edna John and Georgina Kaindoh (women).
Disabled tennis: Novatus Emmanuel Temba, Yohana Assa Mwila and Juma Mohamed Hamisi (men); Rehema Selemani Saidi and Bihawa Mustafa Ituji (women).
Special Olympics: Raphael Kalukula, Pazi Mwinyimkuu and Hatibu Matali (men) and Blandina Blasi, Shida Jaha and Mwanaharusi Risasi (women).
The TASWA 2013/14 Sports Personality of the Year will be picked among the nominees during the awards presentation ceremony, the same as the Hall of Fame winner.
Source Tanzania Daily News
