Dede’s double delight at MTN SWAG Awards
Black Stars midfielder Andre Dede Ayew last Saturday night beat off a strong competition from his teammate Asamoah Gyan, and coaches Yusif Basigi and Bashir Hayford to claim the Sports Personality of the Year award at the 41st MTN SWAG Awards Night.
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It was the ultimate crowning moment for the deputy national captain, who was away in Mauritius on international duty, having played an instrumental role in Ghana’s 2015 Nations Cup campaign in Equatorial Guinea where the Stars picked bronze with Ayew finishing the competition as the highest scorer with three goals and the highest number of assists.
Moments earlier, the Swansea star had scoop the Male Footballer of The Year prize from the Stars captain Gyan and last year’s winner Harrison Afful. Former national star, Rahim Ayew, received the awards on behalf of his younger brother, who took English football by storm last year after joining Swansea from French side Olympique Marseille and ended the season as Swansea’s top scorer with 12 goals.
Last Saturday’s ceremony was graced by high-profile dignitaries, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye; the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, who was the Special Guest of Honour, and representatives of the sponsors such as MTN Ghana, Activa International Insurance, CDH Holdings, GOIL, ATL, Ghana Free Zones Board, Stanbic Bank, T.T. Brothers Ltd., Kasapreko, Special Ice Water, Guinness Ghana Limited and Databank.
Also sharing the podium to be honoured were Black Queens and Hasaacas Ladies tactician Basigi as Coach of the Year for guiding the female national team to win gold at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville, while the Queens shared the honours with the Golden Rackets (men’s tennis team) as Team of the Year.
After picking his award, an elated Basigi told the Graphic Sports he was not surprised to have won the prestigious prize, attributing the success to hard work and promised to go the extra mile to win more laurels for the nation in the Queens’ next international assignment.
The Premier League Star of the Year award went to Eric Opoku of Ashantigold, who captained his side to the League title last season.
Other notable winners on the night included Richard Commey (Professional Boxing Coach of the Year), David Bawa (Amateur Boxer of the Year), John Ampomah (Male Athlete of the Year), Nadia Eke (Female Athlete of the Year), Patrick Yaw Obeng (Para-Athlete of the Year), Jonny Botsio (Male Hockey Player of the Year), Nafisatu Umaru ( Female Hockey Player of the Year), Szandra Szogoli (Female Judoka of the Year), Emmanuel Nartey (Male Judoka of the Year) and David Adjetey (Taekwondo Star of the Year).
Table tennis stars, Felix Lartey, Bernard Joe Sam, Emmanuel Commey and Derrick Abrefa, were also honoured for winning team bronze medal at the All Africa Games, while experienced Asante Kotoko midfielder Stephen Oduro was decorated with the Dedication and Valour award, with Asokwa Deportivo striker Joel Fameyeh taking the Discovery of the Year award.
Youngsters Richard Seklorwu and Joseph Tindan Kuyon were adjudged Discoveries of the Year.
There was a special award to Gyan for using his influence and personal resources to contribute positively to society, after giving the Black Queens $40,000 for winning the All Africa Games gold, spending $200,000 to construct a sports complex for his alma mater, Accra Academy, among other philanthropic activities.
For his contribution to sports journalism spanning over six decades, veteran Nana Ampomah was also presented with a special award.
Other special award winners were Mr Annang Whyte for his contribution towards development of table tennis in the Eastern Region, Police Women’s Hockey Team for winning silver medal at the African Club Championship tournament, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to 80-year-old Sophia Okulley for her outstanding contribution to the development of women’s football in Ghana.
Speaking at the event, Mr Benjamin raised some sensitive subjects that had been untouchable in sports journalism, including age and name falsification in sports in general and football in particular, corruption in sports administration and match-fixing, among others.
The outspoken diplomat also questioned why government spent so much on football at the expense of the lesser-funded sports and urged the members of SWAG to give more prominent coverage to all the athletes who have qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to be held in August.
Mr Vanderpuye, in a speech, charged sports journalists to be fearless, objective and unbiased in their profession.
“Consistently I have said that if there’s any redemption for our sports, it lies within the hands of sports writers in this country. With courage, tenacity of purpose and the desire to be able to say what is right without fear or favour we can go far,” he said.
“Let’s ask questions that why should we continue to pay bonuses at qualifying stages for footballers but not paying for bonuses at qualifying stages for boxers, weightlifters and athletes?”