The SP Sports Awards nominations finalists were announced today at the SP Brewery Brew Kettle here in the nation’s capital.
This year is the annual event’s Silver Jubilee.
And it will be no different from the last 24 years, where it has given recognition to outstanding individuals and teams in PNG’s Sporting Fraternity.
12 categories with 34 nominations have been made.
12 or 13 winners will walk away with their respective awards on the 27th of this month, during the SP Sports Awards night.
The categories are; Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, National Performance of the Year, Community Sports Initiative, and Junior Male and Female Athlete of the year, Best official of the Year, Sports Photo of the Year, Sports Media Award and People’s Choice of the Year.
During the announcement, certain codes stood out as having a number of nominations in the different categories.
PNG Cricket for one has the National Men’s Team, the Hebou PNG Barramundis nominated for the Team of the Year.
Their Captain and the region’s leading batsman, Assad Vala’s name came up under the Male Athlete of the Year category, and even their development program, Girls Empowerment through Cricket was nominated for the Community Sports Initiative of the Year.
While the SP PNG Hunters were also nominated for the Team of the Year, Coach Michael Marum was nominated for the Official of the Year and Former Hunter and current Melbourne Storm winger, Justin Olam was also nominated for the Male Athlete of the year.
And EMTV Sports Coverage has been nominated once again for its contributions to Sports news in 2016 under the Sports Media Award Category.
For the People’s Choice award, 4 top categories, Male and Female Athlete of the year, Team and National Performance of the Year nominees are now up for voting via FM 100’s SMS voting system.
Meanwhile, Rugby League Legend Wally Lewis will be the special guest on the Awards.
