Coventry scoops AUSC award Kirsty Coventry
Kirsty Coventry

Kirsty Coventry

Ellina Mhlanga Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S star athlete, Kirsty Coventry, was on Saturday night crowned the Sportswoman of the Year at the inaugural African Union Sports Council Region Five Regional Annual Sports awards in Johannesburg, South Africa. Coventry was nominated for the Sportsperson of the Year award as well but came tops in the Sportswoman of the Year ahead of South Africa’s cyclist Ashleigh Pasio Moolman and Mozambican athlete Edmilsa Governo.

Region Five is made up of 10 Southern Africa Region countries – Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

And the seven-time Olympic-medallist was the only Zimbabwean athlete who came tops in her category as South Africa dominated the awards. They won top awards in six of the 11 categories, including the Sportsperson of the Year award, which went to Wayde van Niekerk.

Coventry had a good season last year as she won three gold medals for Zimbabwe during the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville. She struck gold in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 200m IM events.

She will be representing Zimbabwe in the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the Olympic Games scheduled for August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Region Five award went to Zambia. AUSC general manager Stanley Mutoya said the Region Five award is given to a country that has taken a leadership role in implementing the AUSC’s programmes.

“The Region 5 award honours a country that has taken a leadership role in the implementation of the AUSC’s programmes, has well-executed sport and recreation development programmes and represents athletes and teams that are excelling and bringing home medals from international championships and events,” Mutoya said.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries and sport celebrities from across the 10 countries which make up Region Five, including Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane, and South Africa’s Sport and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula.

The awards, hosted by the AUSC Region Five are meant to recognise athletes, coaches, member countries, journalists and teams that have produced outstanding performances in sport at regional and international level.

The awards ran under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence! Inspiring Innovation.”

RASA winners
Sportsperson of the year
Wayde Van Njekerk (athletics, South Africa).

Sportsman of the Year
Wayde Van Niekerk (athletics, South Africa).

Sportswoman of the Year
Kirsty Coventry (swimming, Zimbabwe).

Junior male Sportsperson of the Year
Baboloki Thebe (athletics, Botswana).

Junior female Sportsperson of the Year
Naomi Ruele (swimming, Botswana).

Sportsman of the Year with a disability
Lucas Sithole (tennis, South Africa).

Sportswoman of the Year with a disability
Ilse Hayes (athletics, South Africa).

Sports team of the Year
Rugby Sevens (rugby, South Africa).

Coach of the Year
Graham Hill (swimming, South Africa).

Confederation of the Year
Swimming
Region Five award
Zambia
Journalist of the Year
Farai Machamire (Zimbabwe).

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