Award hopefuls
THE Sports Awards selection committee has decided on the top three finalists for each of the 13 categories.
Selecting finalists for this year’s SP Sports Awards among the nominations was quite challenging for the committee as a record number of 134 nominations was received, 21 more than last year.
The finalist are:
* Sports reporter of the year: Frank Genia, Moua Omoa and John Pangkatana;
* Technical official of the year: Clive Elly, Weka Pala and Moses Tolingling;
* Coach of the year: Douglas Mea, Francis Moiyap and Gavera Rarua;
* Sports administrator of the year: Cherly Amini, Barbara Skelton and Roger Wilson;
* Best sportperson with disability: Francis Kompaon, Daniel Odori and Gabby Yura;
* Distinguished services to Sports: Peter Fong, Steve Malum and Weka Pala;
* Junior Team of the year: Bougainville Under 14 soccer team, PNG U16 rugby and Telikom U19 team;
* Junior female athlete of the year: Poro Gahekave, Rita Kari and Abigail Tere-Apisah;
* Junior male athlete of the year: Charles Amini, Stephen Kari and Sam Tasion;
* National performance award: Bougainville women’s touch team, Inauaisa Rooster volleyball team and Rebel U21 netball team;
* Team of the year: PNG Kumuls, PNG women’s soccer and Telikom U19 cricket team;
* Sportswomen of the year: Salome Dell, Rita Kari and Linda Pulsan; and,
* Sportsman of the year: Djorne Fong, Menzie Yere and Gabby Yura.
The nominations were open from Nov 29 last year to Feb 29 this year.
Nominations were received from all parts of the country for the 13 categories for the sports awards.
Nominations were made in respect of performance and achievements during the period Jan 1 to Dec 31 last year. Since this was the year of the Arafura Games in Darwin, South Pacific Games in Samoa and the PNG Games in Lae, more nominations were received from performances during these games.
According to chairperson of the selection committee Emily Taule, the new category introduced this year is the Lifetime Achievement Award. She said this will granted to a highly recognised athlete or official who wins the same category for four consecutive years.
“The person who receives this award will automatically qualify and will not be considered for other categories. She/he will be awarded prize money of K5,000. The winner will be announced on the presentation night,” said Mrs Taule.
She added: “All nominees should be proud that they had been nominated; this shows that they are being recognised by the sporting community and the public at large. Unfortunately there can only be three finalists for each category, but remember you are all outstanding sportsmen and women in your own right.”
The presentation night is scheduled for May 24 with guest speaker being renowned Australian Olympian Cathy Freeman.
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