Yet again
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Pako Lebanna
Location : Gaborone
Event : Sports council awards
The light autumn breeze gave hint of the impending winter as Botswana’s glitterati file into Boipuso Hall on a chilly mid April evening in Gaborone to crown the best achievers in sport.
They were treated to a spectacular night of glitz and glamour. The occasion - Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Sports Awards - that have become one of the main highlights of the Gaborone social calendar, with spectacular performances, impressive décor, international guests, as well as good food and wine.
The night would be dominated by Amantle Montsho as she was crowned Sportsperson of the Year, in an event beamed live on national television (Btv). That was for her remarkable feats last year, which included winning the 400m women’s gold medal at the 10th All Africa Games at the Mozambique national sports arena, the Estadio Nacional Zimpeto in Maputo on September 13 last year.
Montsho was building on to a brilliant 2010 where she won the country’s first gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. While the now iconic Montsho no longer needs motivation to succeed, it is hoped that the BNSC award will spur her on to carry her good 2010 and 2011 form into the crucial 2012 Olympics in London.
The country will be watching with baited breath, hoping to see her win the country its first ever medal in the Olympic Games, a feat which if accomplished, could go a long way in boosting morale of the nation’s sporting fraternity and possibly take the country’s sport to the next level.
Pugilist Oteng Oteng won the sportsman of the year award, having had a good 2011 winning medals at the All Africa Games in Maputo. He beat national footballer, Jerome Ramatlhakwane, top goal scorer in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The boxing fraternity was also pleased to see their colleague, Etsogile Nwako, win the best umpire of the year while the boxing association won the best executed development plan for the fourth year running.
Nigel Amos and Leungo Matlhaku, both of athletics, respectively won kudos of best junior female and best junior male athletes.
400m World Champion Montsho also won Sportswoman of the Year, beating Thato Malunga of Karate and Boikhutso Mudongo of chess.
The senior national football team, the Zebras, was named Team of the Year, adding to the award they won from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as “African Team of the Year” for their outstanding performance in the qualifiers for the 2012 AFCON.
Zebras coach, Stanley Tshosane, who was African Coach of the Year nominee at CAF Awards, was named the BNSC Coach of the Year for 2011.
From the cricket code, Girish Ramakhrishna won the non-citizen award, ahead of Dele Akpata and Estnony Hattingh who were also nominated.
Volleyball also had a good night with Daniel Mookodi winning Administrator of the Year award, while Botswana Volleyball Federation won Sport Code of the Year award.
Special Olympics scooped Group Code of the Year award.
The media awards saw Kutlwano news editor, Lucrecia Chima, take Print Journalist of the Year award for a second time, having first won it a good eight years earlier - 2004.
Chima expressed gratitude to the Lord, and thanked her colleagues, in particular Ludo Chube and Rebaone Tswiio, while paying tribute to the late Kutlwano sub-editor, Doreen Morupisi.
Two more awards went to the Mass Media Complex (Information and Broadcasting Services headquarters), with BOPA/Dailynews photographer, Godfrey Mpuse, winning Photojournalist of the Year with Bethani Mando of Botswana Television winning the Best Electronic Media award.
Mpuse got the award for a third time, while Mando was winning his for a second time. Mmegi got Best Print Media House award, while Duma FM was named Best Electronic Media House.
Music performances by South Africa’s Gugulethu, Cape Town, born superstar, Ringo Madlingozi, as well as an assortment of local artistes added to the glamour of the occasion.The guest of honour, Zambian football legend, Kalusha Bwalya, urged Batswana to work hard to improve their sport.
The current Zambian Football Association president said his country won the 2012 AFCON through commitment to development - always producing capable players despite working with a small budget.BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng, hailed his organisation’s Vision 2012 strategy as a success.
Set out in 1996, the 16-year plan came to a close in 2012, and Reikeletseng said the success of various codes in the international sports arena was evidence enough of the success.
To avoid a vacuum in sports development, Reikeletseng said they were already mapping out post-2012 strategy. Botswana Television general manager, Molefhe Sejoe, thanked all stakeholders who made what was a memorable night.
Gaborone socialites were given VIP treatment in a glamorous event that lasted until the wee hours of the morning as winners celebrated the after-party.
Teaser:
Glamour, glitz as Montsho becomes toast of the night.
