BRENDON DE JONGE will not be part of the cast when top performing athletes of the past season are recognised at the Annual National Sports Awards (Ansa) ceremony at a local hotel this evening.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC)’s corporate communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa yesterday revealed that the country’s number one golfer De Jonge, who is the favourite to land the coveted Sportsperson of the Year Award, has excused himself from the event.
“He said he is on tour and will not be able to attend,” said Tirivashe yesterday. “In the past we have had problems when some of the winners fail to make it to the gala and we had done our best to invite everyone this time and its very unfortunate De Jonge will not be present. We would have loved to have him at the event. All the other athletes based outside the country have confirmed that they will attend,” he added.
The 32-year-old De Jonge, who has taken over from the likes of Nick Price and Mark McNulty as the country’s flag bearer on the PGA tour, has had a solid season and is arguably the only beacon in a year when most local athletes did not perform to expectation.
His campaign was particularly productive with three straight top-four finishes including at the unofficial CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Included in that run was a career-best solo second at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where de Jonge opened with a 62.
De Jonge has been nominated in the Sportsman of the Year category where he is facing competition from Cuthbert Nyasango, Wirimai Zhuwawo, Paul Madzivire, Steven Muzhingi and Rodwell Makoto.
Nyasango and Zhuwawo finished seventh and 15th in the men’s Olympic marathon in London and would have a big shout in the Sportsman of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year categories.
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The swimming icon, who is also in the running for the Sportsperson of the Year Award, faces competition from Tabitha Tsatsa, Sharon Tawengwa, Faith Nyasango and rower Micheen Thorneycroft, who participated at the London Olympics.
The Zimbabwe national rugby side, currently ranked number one in the continent are a sure bet to win the Team of the Year award after their triumph in the Car Africa Cup, and so is their coach Brandon Dawson in the Coach of the Year category.
Principal sponsor of the event Delta Beverages, has poured in $50 000 for the awards.
