Hour of reckoning as BNSC holds Sport Awards
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 8, 2026 10:00
The awards come as the country is fresh from hosting a hugely successful World Relays 2026 and has seen its status as a rising athletics powerhouse burgeon. The past year was defined by some of the finest moments in the nation's sporting history, with athletics and tennis in particular delivering watershed moments. Amongst the standout athletes who will compete for the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year are Collen Kebinatshipi and Ntungamili Raguin. The adjudicators faced a tough time picking the winners who will be announced at the black-tie event tomorrow. It will be the new BNSC chief executive officer, Olebile Sikwane's first awards since he took office in January.
'The awards are a celebration of talent, of our success, the sport's trajectory in the 60th independence year. It's about celebrating our earned stripes, and it's legends night, but we will also recognise the present and future,' Sikwane said. 'The standard of the World Relays and the momentum continue, with an exceptional guest list that includes Hlopie Motsepe, Jessica Motaung, and Hersi Said, president of Yanga (Young Africa) and a plethora of local legends and administrators,' he added. The night, however, will belong to men and women who have dominated the headlines over the past year, both on the track and in the office. For Administrator of the Year, the contest features the Botswana Bowling Association president Marea Modutlwa, the Botswana Football Association's Tariq Babitseng, and Table Tennis president Kudzanayi Motswagole. Athletics, swimming, and table tennis will fight it out for Sport Code of the Year.
There will be a tight contest for Junior Male Sports Person of the Year, where athlete Justice Oratile, tennis star Ntungamili Raguin, and bowling's Edwin Junior Nyoka are the nominees. In the race for Team of the Year, the 4x400m men's relay, which became world champions during last year's World Championships in Tokyo, faces the Davis Cup team that gained promotion from Africa Group V to Group IV on home soil last July, as well as the 4x400m mixed relay team. Athletics coach Chilume Ntshwarang, who was at the wheel during the World Championships, will battle it out against Phenyo Motaung, who led the Davis Cup team and Under-20 women's football coach Tapapiwa Tracy Gaebolae. In the award for Female Sportsperson with Disability, it is a toss between Gloria Majaga from PASSOBO and tennis' Omphile Bothasitse. Athletics' Oratile Thomas Ndadzila, Abel Mataboge from softball and basketball's Doroth Okatchi are the nominees for the Umpire/Referee of the Year award. For Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year, athlete Same Mohutsiwa, swimmer Melodi Saleshando, and judoka Neelo Modise will battle it out.
Man of the moment, Kebinatshipi, Goitseone Phoko from Jwaneng Galaxy, and Tumiso Phuthego from judo are the nominees for the Sportsman of the Year award. Middle-distance runner, Oratile Nowe, will face karateka Senty Kgosikoma and chess player Natalie Banda in the fight for the Sportswoman of the Year award.