Gyan vrs Dede for SWAG top award
Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, and his deputy Andre Dede Ayew look set to share the two most prestigious SWAG honours between them as the highly-anticipated 41st SWAG Awards Night rocks the Banquet Hall of the State House tomorrow, with the forthright British High Commissioner, Mr Jon Benjamin, leading a rich parade of dignitaries as the Special Guest of Honour.
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Even on national duty in Mauritius, Gyan and Ayew, could still outdo top local coaches, Yusif Basigi and Bashir Hayford for the flagship Sports Personality of the Year award, considering their respective credentials last year.
While Basigi made the final shortlist after leading the Black Queens to win their first ever gold at the All Africa Games in Congo last year, Hayford merited nomination for the enviable award, having guided Ashantigold to their first Premier League title in 19 years.
However, the race could be narrowed down to a straight fight between Gyan and Ayew following their exploits in the Stars’ silver-winning campaign at AFCON 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, as well as their impressive club outings.
During the period, Gyan recorded another transfer move from Al Ain to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG, while Ayew was an instant hit for Welsh side Swansea City in the English Premier League, following his free transfer from French side Marseille.
Coincidentally, the Stars duo are also neck and neck for the Footballer of the Year award, alongside teammate Harrison Afful in an event which will also be graced by the Sports Minister, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.
In what could be described as one of the best SWAG Awards in recent times, about 700 guests drawn from the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, sports chiefs and athletes across the board will be in attendance, including the Chief Executive Officer of headline sponsor, MTN Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Asante.
Another interesting contest will be the Premier League Star of the Year category where Ashantigold’s Eric Opoku (who won the PLB version of the award)), Kennedy Ashia of Liberty Professionals and Wa All Stars agile goalkeeper Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars) are in contention.
The other categories are as follows: National Team of the Year - Black Queens, Golden Rackets; Coach of the Year - Yusif Basigi (Black Queens, Hasaacas Ladies), Bashir Hayford (Ashgold), Henry Quansah (Golden Rackets); Richard Commey - Professional Boxer of the Year); Amateur Boxer of the Year - David Bawa; Athlete of the Year (male) - John Ampomah, Athelete of the Year (female) - Nadia Eke; Para-Athlete of the Year - Patrick Yaw Obeng; Female Hockey Player of the Year - Jonny Botsio; Female Hockey Player of the Year - Nafisatu Umaru; Table Tennis Star of the Year - Felix Lartey, Bernard Joe Sam, Emmanuel Commey and Derrick Abrefa; Judoka of the Year (female) - Szandra Szogoli; and Judoka of the Year (male) - Emmanuel Nartey (All Africa 60kg bronze).
The rest are Taekwondo Star of the Year - David Adjetey; Association Chairman/President of the Year - Frederick Otu Lartey of the Ghana Taekwondo Association (GTA); Discovery of the Year - Richard Seklorwu (long jump gold medallist, Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa), Joseph Tindan Kuyon (silver medallist, World Children Taekwondo Culture Festival in South Korea); Most Promising Star - Joel Fameyeh; Dedication and Valour - Stephen Oduro (Asante Kotoko); and Lifetime Achievement Award - Sophia Okuley (women’s football).
Special Awards will also be given to Asamoah Gyan (philanthropy), Eben Annang Whyte (development of table tennis) and Police Women’s Hockey team (silver medalist at the African Clubs Championship).
Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, and his deputy Andre Dede Ayew look set to share the two most prestigious SWAG honours between them as the highly-anticipated 41st SWAG Awards Night rocks the Banquet Hall of the State House tomorrow, with the forthright British High Commissioner, Mr Jon Benjamin, leading a rich parade of dignitaries as the Special Guest of Honour.
Even on national duty in Mauritius, Gyan and Ayew, could still outdo top local coaches, Yusif Basigi and Bashir Hayford for the flagship Sports Personality of the Year award, considering their respective credentials last year.
While Basigi made the final shortlist after leading the Black Queens to win their first ever gold at the All Africa Games in Congo last year, Hayford merited nomination for the enviable award, having guided Ashantigold to their first Premier League title in 19 years.
However, the race could be narrowed down to a straight fight between Gyan and Ayew following their exploits in the Stars’ silver-winning campaign at AFCON 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, as well as their impressive club outings.
During the period, Gyan recorded another transfer move from Al Ain to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG, while Ayew was an instant hit for Welsh side Swansea City in the English Premier League, following his free transfer from French side Marseille.
Coincidentally, the Stars duo are also neck and neck for the Footballer of the Year award, alongside teammate Harrison Afful in an event which will also be graced by the Sports Minister, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.
In what could be described as one of the best SWAG Awards in recent times, about 700 guests drawn from the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, sports chiefs and athletes across the board will be in attendance, including the Chief Executive Officer of headline sponsor, MTN Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Asante.
Another interesting contest will be the Premier League Star of the Year category where Ashantigold’s Eric Opoku (who won the PLB version of the award)), Kennedy Ashia of Liberty Professionals and Wa All Stars agile goalkeeper Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars) are in contention.
The other categories are as follows: National Team of the Year - Black Queens, Golden Rackets; Coach of the Year - Yusif Basigi (Black Queens, Hasaacas Ladies), Bashir Hayford (Ashgold), Henry Quansah (Golden Rackets); Richard Commey - Professional Boxer of the Year); Amateur Boxer of the Year - David Bawa; Athlete of the Year (male) - John Ampomah, Athelete of the Year (female) - Nadia Eke; Para-Athlete of the Year - Patrick Yaw Obeng; Female Hockey Player of the Year - Jonny Botsio; Female Hockey Player of the Year - Nafisatu Umaru; Table Tennis Star of the Year - Felix Lartey, Bernard Joe Sam, Emmanuel Commey and Derrick Abrefa; Judoka of the Year (female) - Szandra Szogoli; and Judoka of the Year (male) - Emmanuel Nartey (All Africa 60kg bronze).
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The rest are Taekwondo Star of the Year - David Adjetey; Association Chairman/President of the Year - Frederick Otu Lartey of the Ghana Taekwondo Association (GTA); Discovery of the Year - Richard Seklorwu (long jump gold medallist, Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa), Joseph Tindan Kuyon (silver medallist, World Children Taekwondo Culture Festival in South Korea); Most Promising Star - Joel Fameyeh; Dedication and Valour - Stephen Oduro (Asante Kotoko); and Lifetime Achievement Award - Sophia Okuley (women’s football).
Special Awards will also be given to Asamoah Gyan (philanthropy), Eben Annang Whyte (development of table tennis) and Police Women’s Hockey team (silver medalist at the African Clubs Championship).