Namibia: NPL Set for Bumper Awards

Sheefeni Nikodemus

16 June 2011

The MTC Namibia Premier League will have a record nine categories with prize money of N$170 000 at its annual awards ceremony tomorrow.

The five new awards are those of referee of the season, assistant referee of the season, match commissioner of the season, players’ player of the season and team manager of the season.

Of the nine awards on offer, one already has a winner. Mighty Gunners frontman Harold Ochurub, who is vying for two awards, is already guaranteed the N$20 000 Premiership Top Goal-scorer award for netting 12 league goals.

Ochurub aside, all eyes will no doubt be on who lands the N$40 000 Premiership Player of the Season award. In the running are Black Africa’s creative spark Bradley Wermann, Civics’ influential captain Heini Isaacs and Ramblers’ flying winger Eslin Kamuhanga.

Many would bank on either Wermann or Isaacs getting the award, with Kamuhanga the dark horse in the race.

Surprisingly, African Stars’ midfield lynchpin Ronald Katjijere – who has had an impressive season for his side that has allowed him to make his breakthrough for the Brave Warriors – failed to make the list for the league’s best player.

The Coach of the Season award is to be contested by Eleven Arrows’ Congo Hindjou, Christy Guruseb of Ramblers and Mighty Gunners’ handler Leonard Nambandi. Guruseb appears to be the favourite, having led an unfancied Ramblers side to second spot behind eventual league champions Black Africa.

Nambandi could also land the N$20 000 award, after helping Gunners avoid relegation and a quick return to first division football. Hindjou’s nomination is baffling and could only be attributed to winning the Leo NFA Cup, as his side has been far from impressive in the league and could only finish in sixth position.

Eleven Arrows goalkeeper and captain Virgil Vries will vie against Wermann and Ochurub for the inaugural N$15 000 Players’ Player of the Season award.

For the same figure, African Stars’s Lesley Kozonguizi is up against Civics’ Paul Stramis and Fernades Maules of Tigers for the Team Manager of the Season accolade.

In the N$15 000 Referee of the Season category, the nominees are Kavango duo Reinhold Shikongo and Ndara Martin, as well as John Chika from Caprivi.

Oshana’s Erastus Shilunga is set to contest the Assistant Referee of the Season category with Mathew Kanyanga and Dawid Shanika from Khomas, while the Match Commissioner of the Season award is between Rudolph Haingura (Kavango Region), Mathew Amadhila and Alex Kapeniana (both Khomas).

Both awards are worth N$15 000.

The ‘special’ Chairman’s Award is the only category that has no nominees and is also valued at N$15 000.

The event starts at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek at 19h00.

AllAfrica – All the Time