THE Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) released finalists for the Annual National Sports Awards on Wednesday ahead of Friday night’s awards ceremony in Harare.

Two-time Sportsperson of the Year and World Boxing Council silver welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi is in the running for a record third award after he was nominated in the Sportsman of the Year category. He’s vying for the gong with karateka Brian Chiriga and golfer Scot Vincent.

Chiriga won gold at the WFKO Championships in November last year and silver at the Shorin Kempo All-Africa Championships. He also scooped gold in the second SO Kyoshanin All-Africa Championships as well as in the Lens Bans memorial.

Vincent has many accolades under his belt locally, regionally and in international competitions.

Seasoned marathon runner Rutendo Nyahora is a dark horse in the Sportsperson of the Year award. Nyahora is the favourite to land the Sportswoman of the Year, which she’s contending for with equestrian Camilla Ruth Kruger and rower Micheen Thornycroft.

It will be another tight contest in the Junior Sportswoman of the Year with Disability, as all finalists scooped gold at the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games held in Angola in December under athletics for the visually impaired. 

Moment Bhebhe and Libetra Shoko got two gold medals in the 800m (T13) and 1 500m (T13) races, while Shoko won the 100m (T13) and 300 (T13) races respectively. 

The other finalist Grace Nyamadzawo took gold in the 1500m (T12), silver in the 800m (T12) and bronze in the 400m (T12) events.

Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa did not make the final list for the Coach of the Year award, with adjudicators settling for netball coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki, who led the Zimbabwe Under-21 netball team to the World Cup finals set for Botswana this July. 

Mutsauki faces the challenge of rowing coach Rachel Davies and Zimbabwe Under-21 hockey coach Trish Davies.

2016 Ansa Finalists

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

Danielle MarieBekker, 

Rebekah Ryaan Oberholzer

Ciara Jessica Soper

Junior Sportsman of the Year

Chengetai Mapaya

Wyne Nkomo

Beaven Sibanda

Junior Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

Moment Bhebhe

Grace Nyamadzawo

Libetra Shoko

Junior Sportsman of the Year with Disability

Liberty Mazino

Tafadzwa Munyoro

Shepherd Patrick

Sportswoman of  the Year

Camilla Ruth Kruger

Rutendo Nyahora

Micheen Thornycroft

Sportsman of the Year

Brian Chiringa

Charles Manyuchi

Scot Vincent

Sportswoman of the Year with Disability

Margaret Bangajena

Thandiwe Ndlovu

Ratidzo Tom

Sportsman of the Year with Disability

Elford Moyo

Michael Mudyanadzo

Munyaradzi Musariri

Team of the Year

Hockey Under-21

Mighty Warriors

Team Zimbabwe (AUSC) Under-17

Coach of the Year

Rachel J Davies

Trish Davies

Ropafadzo Mutsauki

Technical Official of the Year

Agnes Chiroodza

Debi Jeans

Lucky Mlilo

Women in Sports Award

Grace Chirumanzu

Kirsty Coventry

Micheen B Thornycroft

Sports Administration of the Year  (to be announced on the day)

Sports Development of the Year  (to be announced on the day)

Special Acknowledgements Awards (to be announced on the day)

Junior Sportsman of the Year (to be announced on the day)

Sports Person of the Year  (to be announced on the day)