Mohammed Kudus, James Dadzie battle for SWAG top award

Ghana football’s poster boy Mohammed Kudus will vie with athletics sensation James Dadzie will vie the topmost prize at the 48th Sports Writers Association of Ghana Awards which comes off in Accra next month.

A statement by SWAG named the two stars for the prestigious prize, alongside other nominees for various competitive categories, as well as special awards to outstanding individuals and organisations who have contributed to the development of sports in Ghana.

The two stars enjoyed an outstanding year, with Kudus playing a leading role in Ghana's Black Stars as well as standout performances for Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam before a summer transfer to English Premier League club West Ham United where the midfielder extended his impressive form with top-drawer performances for the Hammers.

Dadzie, on the other hand, enjoyed an amazing season in US collegiate athletics running for Western Texas University where he set a new Ghana record in the men's 200 metres sprints.

He ran a blistering 19.79 seconds over the long sprints at the Crofoot Shootout in Lubbock, Texas, obliterating the existing mark of 20.08 seconds set in 2019 by US-based Joseph Paul Amoah. His record at the time was the world leading mark over the distance.

However, he picked up an injury during the World Athletics Championship in Budapest and crashed out of his 200m heat.

The winners will be unveiled at the awards ceremony to be held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Kudus was also nominated along with his Black Stars teammates Ernest Nuamah, Joseph Paintsil and Osman Bukari for the Footballer of the Year (Foreign) prize, while former Bibiani GoldStars forward Abednego Tetteh battles with the Medeama duo of Jonathan Sowah and Vincent Atinga for the Football of the Year (Home Based) prize.

Dadzie picks up the Male Athlete of the Year award, with Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa picking the honours as Female Athlete of the Year.

Other nominees are Anastashia Achiaa, Princella Adubea, Blessing Shine Agbomadzi, Maafia Nyame (Female Footballer of the Year),Karim Zito of Dreams FC, Augustine Evans Adotey of Medeama SC, Stephen Richard Obeng of Black Challenge, Nana Joe Adarkwa of Ampem Darkoa (Coach of the Year), Medeama SC, Ampem Darkoa Ladies (Club of the Year), Grace Mintah (Armwrestler of the Year), Haruna Tahiru (Para-Athlete of the Year), Joanita Borteye (Table Tennis Player of the Year), Zaira Forson (Swimmer of the Year), Charles Abbiw (Tennis Player of the Year).

SWAG will also confer Lifetime Achievement awards on S.K. Hlodzie and Capt. Rtd Andy Sam, while Moses Armah of Medeama SC, Herbert Mensah of Ghana Rugby Football Union, Samson Deen of National Paralympic Committee, Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabour II, and Rev. Emmanuel Djani Niikoi will receive Meritorious awards.