The Sports and Recreation Commission on Friday announced the finalists for the 2015 Annual National Sports Awards.
The battle for the top award will be between boxer Charles Manyuchi and six-time winner Kirsty Coventry after the two were nominated in their various categories.
The chairman of the judges panel, Titus Zvomuya, revealed that Manyuchi, who is the reigning Sportsperson of the Year, has been nominated among the finalists for the Sportsman of the Year Award.
Coventry, who is Zimbabwe’s greatest ever sportsperson, has been nominated among the finalists for the Sportswoman of the Year Award.
The winners of the various 16 categories will be vetted from where the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award winner will come from.
All national sports associations were asked to submit their perceived outstanding athletes to be considered for the awards.
However, Zvomuya said they were disappointed that some of the associations were not co-operative.
“We hope that next time all the associations will take this seriously and provide names for consideration,” he said.
The Zimbabwe women’s soccer team, the Mighty Warriors, are favorites to win the Team of the Year Award following their qualification to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The award winners will be announced on a day still to be decided by the Sport and Recreation Commission.
Now to football.
On Saturday, the curtain comes down on the 16 team Castle Lager Premier Soccer League assembly with the crowning of Chicken Inn as Zimbabwe champions at Larfage Stadium in their last game against Flame Lilly.
The Game Corks won the championship last week but had to wait for another week to receive their trophy from Delta Beverages marketing director Maxen Karombo.
The Zimbabwean champions, however, will have to wait a bit longer to receive their $100,000 prize money which they will be handed at a party to be hosted on November 13.
However, focus of attention is on who will go down to Division One - either Tsholotsho Pirates on 30 points or Buffaloes on 29 points.
Tsholotsho Pirates will host Harare City while Buffaloes are at home to Dynamos and Dembare coach Tonderayi Ndiraya has promised no mercy to the Zimbabwe National Army side.
The other matches on the menu are as follows:
Chapungu v How Mine
Caps United v Whawha
Dongo v FC Platinum
Hwange v Triangle
Highlanders v ZPC Kariba
