Who wins SWAG top awards?
Black Stars captain Asamaoh Gyan and his deputy Andre Dede Ayew have been tipped to go head to head for the topmost prize at the 41st MTN Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards which comes off tomorrow at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.
Advertisement
The two football stars will compete in what is expected to be a close contest alongside coaches Yusif Basigi and Bashir Hayford for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year award.
The duo were among the principal architects when Ghana reached the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations before losing to Cote d’Ivoire, and also played significant roles for their clubs.
Last year Gyan made a lucrative move from Emirati side Al Ain and Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League, while Ayew ended a long stay at French giants Olympique Marseille to mid-table English Premiership side, Swansea City, where he became an instant hit.
Coach Basigi’s stewardship of Ghana’s female national side, Black Queens and Hasaacas Ladies to win gold at the All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville and the National Women’s League title, respectively puts him in contention for the top prize just as Bashir Hayford’s guidance of AshantiGold to claim the First Capital Plus Premier League title, puts him in good stead.
Significantly, both Gyan and Ayew will go up against each other again in the Male Footballer of the Year prize where they will compete with their Black Stars teammate Harrison Afful who plays for Major League Soccer side, Columbus Crew.
The Female Player of the Year award will be a straight fight between Black Queens players, Portia Boakye, Samira Suleman and Janet Egyiri, who were a part of the gold medal-winning team at the All Africa Games.
Ashgold midfielder, Eric Opoku, who skippered his side to the Premier League title is in contention with Kennedy Ashia (Liberty Professionals) and Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars) for the Premier League Player of the Year award.
The National Team of the Year award will be contested by the Black Queens and the national tennis team, Golden Rackets duo of George Darko /Wisdom Narh Adjrago who won doubles gold at the All Africa Games, while coaches Basigi, Hayford and Henry Quansah, coach of the Golden Rackets, are on the shortlist for Coach of the Year award.
The Table Tennis Star of the Year prize will be awarded to the Black Loopers quartet of Felix Lartey, Benjamin Joe Sam, Emmanuel Commey and Derick Abrefa who claimed bronze at the All Africa Games.
The Professional Boxer of the Year award will be handed to Richard Commey for the second successive year for winning the Commonwealth lightweight title last year, with David Bawa winning the amateur version for his exploits at the All Africa Games where he won bronze in the heavyweight division.
Javelin thrower, John Amponsah will pick the Male Athlete of the Year prize for setting two national records in 2015 while winning bronze at the All Africa Games, while the Female Athlete of the Year goes to Nadia Eke, who won bronze in triple jump in Congo-Brazzaville and set a new national record in the process.
The Para-Athlete of the Year will go to Yaw Obeng for his efforts in winning bronze at the All Africa Games in the 1,500 and 800 TS4 events, while Joel Fameyeh of Kumasi-based Division One side, Asokwa Deportivo, wins the Promising Star of the Year award.
The Male Hockey Player award goes to John Botsio with Nafisatu Umaru taking home the female category for their efforts at club and the national team level last year.
The respective female and male Judoka of the Year awards will be handed to Szandra Szogedi who won bronze in the 63kg class in Brazzaville and Emmanuel Nartey for winning bronze in the 60kg division.
David Adjetey is the Taekwondo Star of the Year with his association chairman, Federick Otu Lartey, winning the Chairman of the Year award.
SWAG will honour youngsters Richard Seklorwu (who won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa) and Joseph Tindan Kuyon (who took silver at the World Children Taekwondo Culture Festival in South Korea) as the Discoveries of the Year.
The Guest of Honour of the awards will be the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin.