Five coastal athletes have been named among the finalists for the 2026 Namibia Annual Sport Awards, recognising their achievements across different sporting disciplines.
Boxer Tryagain Ndevelo of the Namibia Boxing Federation and Ryan Roux of Martial Arts Namibia are finalists in the Sportsman of the Year category.
Mischa Monique Araes, also representing the Namibia Boxing Federation, has been nominated for both Sportswoman of the Year and Junior Sportswoman of the Year.
Meanwhile, Visser de Villiers of the Namibia National Paralympic Committee is a finalist for Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.
The awards also recognise professional sporting achievements, with Deon Hotto among the finalists for the Professional Shining Star Award.
Their nominations place the spotlight on the Erongo coastal region’s contribution to Namibia’s sporting success, with athletes competing for national recognition alongside talent from across the country.
The annual event celebrates Namibia’s sporting achievers, recognising performances, dedication and contributions to the development of sport at both junior and senior levels. The awards are supported by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, the Namibia Sport Commission, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee.
The nominees were announced by the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), which received 127 entries this year, up from 111 in 2025. NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said the increase reflected continued interest and confidence in the awards. He added that strengthened verification and monitoring systems had been introduced to protect the credibility of the selection process.
This year’s awards feature three new categories: Sport Administrator of the Year, Sustainable Sport Initiative Award and Safe Sport Award. However, the Safe Sport and Fair Play awards will not feature at the ceremony because no entries were received in those categories.
The annual awards celebrate sporting excellence and recognise achievements at junior and senior levels across numerous disciplines. The ceremony is scheduled for 14 November at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek and will be broadcast live on NBC. Photos contributed.
By Rudi Bowe
