Meet the Mozambican Athletes of the Year

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Meet the Mozambican Athletes of the Year

9:18 CAT | 10 May 2019

Photo: O País

The Sports Gala awarding the best Mozambican athletes of 2018 was honoured by the presence of President Filipe Nyusi, who presented diplomas of honour to the athletes of the year, namely Elisabeth Guambe (adapted category), Rady Gramane (women’s boxing), and Arsénio Ngovu (volleyball, male).

Filipe Nyusi had expressed a desire to attend the Sports Gala and honour in person the athletes who stood out last year in various sporting codes.

The president noted that Mozambique has won 145 medals in international events – 56 gold, 37 silver and 52 bronze. Medals that dignified the country and raised the national flag high on several sporting stages, he said.

But the biggest highlights were for the collective modalities, namely women’s basketball, the U-18s and the Ferroviário de Maputo Club, which won silver in the African Cup and the African Champion Clubs’ Cup, both events taking place in Maputo.

Volleyball teams of both sexes also had a great year, especially the under-21’s and under-18’s. The same applies to sailing and canoeing (Optimist class).

Mozambicans also won several individual medals, in martial arts and boxing, which President Nyusi did not fail to note, praising what had been achieved and hoping for more of the same, this year and next.

Surprise Awards

As far as the awards went, the big surprise was no doubt the nominees for Athlete of the Year. Rady Gramane (women) and Arsénio Ngovu (men) succeeded 2017 winners Leia Dongue and Mussa Tualbudine, while Elisabeth Guambe was honoured in the Adapted Sport category. The athletes expressed themselves grateful for the recognition and promised to continue working to represent the country in international competitions.

Ana Paula Sinaportar (females) and Geny Catamo (males) were the Breakout Athletes of last year, while women’s Team of the Year went to the U-18 basketball team and the men’s U-19 beach volleyball team.

But the awards didn’t stop there. Room – and diplomas of honour – was found to recognise national sports partners, those who lent their support to the development of sport, and the federations that stood out for their commitment over the past year.

Many others received degrees of merit, notably the national champions, those dedicated to proselytising and training, those who have had an exemplary career over the years, the families who have dedicated time to sports and institutions and those recognised as good infrastructure managers.

In the other honours, volleyball player Leocádia Manhiça attracted the highest number of votes in the Most Popular Athlete category. Coach of the Year went to Leonel Manhique, who won the national title with the Ferroviário de Maputo in women’s basketball and the silver medal with the women’s U-18 team.

Arsenio Marrengula was dubbed Referee of the Year, while Mozambican Television journalist Cristina Cristiano took the Journalist of the Year award. Awards for jump rope, karate and musical performance were also distributed.

The Sports Gala was attended by several figures associated with national sport, members of the government and diplomats Awards of the Sports Gala

DIPLOMAS OF HONOUR – PARTNERS

Millennium Bim
BCI
HCB
ZAP
Engen

DIPLOMAS OF HONOUR – FEDERATIONS

Volleyball
Boxing
Sailing and Canoeing
Karate

DIPLOMAS OF MERIT

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Denise Paruque – Sail Optimist
Sailing National Team – Optimist
Beach Volley National team – U19
Ferroviário de Maputo – Women’s Basketball

MASSIFICATION AND TRAINING

Locomotiva Esperança
Associação Black Bulls
Fut-Escola de Gaza

CAREER AWARD

Camilo Antão
Brás dos Santos
Marcelino Macome
António Marques
Roberto da Silva
Ângelo Gerónimo
António Xavier
Fabião Silva
Mahomed Galibo
Orlando Conde

FAMILY IN SPORT AWARD

Pimentel
Count
Nhavene

INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

Mahafil
FC Chidenguele
Autonomous Council of Beira

SPORTS AGENTS

Journalist of the Year – Cristina Cristiano (TVM)
Coach of the Year – Leonel Manhique (basket)
Referee of the year – Arsenio Marrengula (football)
Female Athlete – Ana Paula Sinaportar (Volleyball)
Male Revealing Athlete – Geny Catamo (football)

Popular Athlete – Leocádia Manhiça

Women’s Team of the Year – U-18 Basket Selection
Men’s Team of the Year – U-19 Volleyball Selection

Adapted Athlete of the Year – Elisabeth Guambe
Female Athlete of the Year – Rady Gramane (Boxing
Male Athlete of the Year – Arsénio Ngovu (Volleyball)

By Elísio Uamusse

Source: O País