Sport Awards of the Year 2019 |19 December 2019
The Sports Awards of the Year 2019 crowning ceremony will take place on Friday January 31, 2019
How legit is this year’s Sports Awards selection?
With the curtains practically down on this year’s sporting season, except for football which has switched from a February-to-November schedule to an August–to-May calendar, the main interest is now the traditional Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony.
The event, scheduled for Friday January 31, 2020, is served as a reward for outstanding athletes from the various local sports federations and associations who have excelled in their respective discipline, both at local and at international levels.
It carries cash prizes, trophies and prizes in kind as rewards for the most spectacular and outstanding performances in the field of sports by individual male and female sportspersons.
Launched in 1983 with the objective of honouring the most outstanding sportspersons to enhance their general status and to give them dignity and a place of honour in society, the scheme has over the years extended to highlight the outstanding achievements from our athletes, teams, coaches, volunteers, officials, sports federations and associations, educational institutions and disabled athletes.
A not-to-miss event over the years, as the title – acknowledged as the top honours on the national sporting calendar – is the dream of all male and female athletes.
It also gives sports fanatics and members of the public the chance to vote and express themselves on who they think deserve to be honoured.
The event, however, has, over the years, had its fair share of skeleton in the closet, especially in regards to the laws and regulations governing local sports, as well as the general law of the land.
An issue which has been thrown under the rug for a long time, but has surfaced during 2019, bringing more questions than answers, especially in the way sports is being governed in the country, thus, questioning the credibility of the Sports Awards scheme.
The main problem concerns the legitimacy of most of the local sports governing bodies in regards to their compliancy with the Office of Registrar of Associations.
These bodies are annually granted recognition by the government, through the National Sports Council (NSC) which regulates respective sports at national level.
The NSC is responsible to give an annual grant, given that the sports bodies are compliant to relevant criteria, including filing accounts, the legal status of the body, and other requirements to ensure transparent functioning.
In 2019, it has been made public that a large number of local sports bodies are to date non-compliant which made their involvement in the Sports Awards illegal.
The level of non-compliance indicates that some of the national sport associations does not have regard for the laws of the land and within that line, it was said that the NSC and the Office of Registrar of Associations would work jointly to ensure that there is order in the sport sector as the issue does not affect only the sector in question, but also the country’s record at international level.
Conducting a brief critical sport management research, Sports NATION came up with evidence of the bad and ugly sides of local sport.
It was promised by the chief executive of the NSC Jean Larue that new measures will be put in place to ensure that problems are resolved once and for all.
He explained that the NSC will tighten the screws especially on those federations who come to seek for assistance when they are not in good books with the council, especially in the areas of serious concern regarding the sub elements of accountability, transparency, social responsibility, independence, fairness and discipline.
As it is the case in every conflict, it is, on most occasions, the innocents who become the victims and in the case of the Sports Awards, if proper and appropriate actions are taken against the governing bodies, it will be the hard-working athletes who will bear the consequences.
Once again, it is quite obvious that the NSC either has no teeth, or is simply adopting a laissez-faire attitude or approach, which puts in question the integrity and authenticity of the Sports Awards of the Year ceremony.
The nominees for this year’s awards
All sports federations and associations had until November 29, 2019 to hand in the filled-in forms which were sent out on October 15. The deadline was extended to December 16, 2019 and by yesterday when the selection committee met for the first time, four associations – dominoes, petanque, football and cycling – had not handed in theirs. During the day, the Seychelles Domino Association brought in their forms.
The selection committee took a decision that best athletes chosen by associations who are late in handing in their forms will only receive their prize but will not feature in the finals.
The selection committee will meet again on Monday December 23 to decide the finalists.
Athletics: 1. Iven Moïse, 2. Ned Azemia (male) 1. Natacha Chetty 2. Natacha Bibi (female), Joshua Onezime (best young male), Shakira Joubert (best young female)
Badminton: 1. Jie Luo, 2. Kervin Ghislain (male), 1. Alissen Camille, 2. Danielle Jupiter (female), Aaron Malcouzane (best young male), Xiang Luo (best young female)
Basketball: 1. Timmy Adam. 2. Dave Roseline (male), 1. Guyra Boniface, 2 Sherifah Agathine (female), Khris Bouchereau (best young male), Michelle Ah-Kong (best young female)
Bodybuilding: 1. Mervin Dugasse, 2. Rodney Henriette (male)
Boxing: 1. Keddy Agnes, 2. Andrique Allisop (male)
Canoeing: Trevor Lespoir (male)
Chess: 1.Ragul Pillay (male), 1. Rachelle Hoareau (female), Arfan Mohamed (best young male), Roysha Mougal (best young female)
Cricket: 1. Govind Ramjibhai, 2. Lokuwadugei (male), Karston Thomas (best junior male)
Darts: 1. Nichol Esparon, 2. Marc Pouponneau (male), 1. Monia Delpech, 2. Josette Domingue (female)
Dominoes: 1. Jim Pointe, 2. Paul Labiche (male), 1. Thelma Labonté, 2. Clency Bristol (female), Thierry Magnan (best young male), Elma Labonté (best young female)
Golf: 1. Jerry Jean-Baptiste, 2. Richard D’Offay (male)
Handball: 1. Damio Ernesta, 2. Patrick Toussaint (male), 1. Gracey Johnson, 2. Christel Sedgwick (female), Sebastien Toussaint (best young male), Francel Marie (best young female)
Hockey: 1. Immanuel Madeleine, 2. Deelan Tambara (male), 1. Mandy Joubert, 2. Dannisha Jules, (female), Dannisha Jules (best young female), Deelan Tambara (best young male)
Judo: 1. Dominique Dugasse, 2. Nantenaina Finesse (male), 1. Marie-Annette Vidot, 2. Nathaella Volcère (female), Nigel Kilindo (best young male), Murella Créa (best young female)
Karate: 1. Steve Marie, 2. Dean Athanase (male), 1. Mastura Shah-Faure, 2. Lindy Bedier (female), Daniel Bedier (best young male), Tara Michel (best young female)
Karting: 1. Dean Maillet, 2. Jean-David Melanie (male), 1. Mitra Labrosse, 2. Phillipa Samson (female), Delroy Lionnet (best young male), Kerry-Anne Bonté (best young female)
Netball: Flossy Bonnelame (female)
Swimming: 1. Mathieu Bachmann, 2. Simon Bachmann (male), 1. Felicity Passon, 2. Sofie Frichot, Damien Payet (best young male), Therese Soukup (best young female)
Squash: 1. Klaus Pragassen (male), 1. Eva Alphonse (female)
Table Tennis: 1. Godfrey Sultan, 2. Mario Lablache (male), 1. Christy Kilindo, 2. Margarette Chang-Time (female), Mael Youpa (best young male), Aurelie Toussaint (best young female)
Tennis: 1. Damien Laporte, 2. Shaun Andriamaro (male), 1. Fatime Kanté, 2. Marie-May Isnard (female), Damien Laporte (best young male), Alisha Sharma (best young female)
Volleyball: 1. Rodney Ah-Kong, 2. Percy Riaze (male), 1. Petra Richard, 2. Angelique Adeline (female), Corey Toussaint (best young male), Nelsia Toussaint (best young female)
Weightlifting: 1. Steven Baccus, 2. Rick Confiance (male), 1. Romantha Larue, 2. Clementina Agricole (female)
Windsurfing: Jean-Marc Gardette, 2. Bertrand Lablache (male)
Yachting (Sailing): 1. Rodney Govinden, 2. Allan Julie (male), 1. Chantal Hoffman, 2. Stephanie Lalande (female), Dean Mathiot (best young male), Stephanie Lalande (best young female)
Disabled: 1. Richard Sophola, 2. Michael Andrew (male), 2. Stephanie Mondon, 2. Lorna Sophola (female), Michael Jean (best young male)
Roland Duval