Appiah, Gyan battle for SWAG top award
Black Stars coach, James Kwasi Appiah, stands on the threshold of sporting history as he vies with his captain, Asamoah Gyan, and weightlifting heroine, Juliana Arku, for the SWAG Sports Personality of the Year award.
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For the first time in its illustrious history, a coach of the national team is in contention for the flagship award of SWAG on a night a galaxy of sports stars and organisations will be honoured by SWAG for outstanding contributions to Ghana sports in 2013.
It will be a platform for the celebration of the Black Stars for qualifying for next month’s FIFA World Cup.
At tomorrow’s MTN SWAG Awards night at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra, the Black Stars coach will again contend for the honour as Coach of the Year for becoming the first indigenous coach to qualify the national team to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The role played by Gyan as the Stars captain and the highest scorer in the qualifying series, coupled with his outstanding performance for his Dubai-based club, Al Ain, places him in line for a second Sports Personality of the Year prize.
Between the two football stars is unsung heroine, Juliana Arku, who became the most decorated Ghanaian in a single sport event at an international competition, after winning six medals at last year’s African Championship in Morocco.
Another category of the awards night to witness a strong competition is the Men’s Footballer of the Year, being contested for by two national midfielders, Kwadwo Asamoah and Sulley Ali Muntari, both plying their trade in Italy.
At the awards night other sports personalities such as Patrick Allotey (Boxer of the Year), Samuel Anim (Cyclist of the Year), Ben Nunoo-Mensah (Association Chairman of the Year), Elikem Akaba (Male Hockey Player of the Year), Elizabeth Opoku (Female Hockey Player of the Year) and Clifford Aboagye (Discovery of the Year) will be honoured.
Also to be honoured are Ebenezer Assifuah (Most Promising Star), Hasaacas Ladies (Best Female Club), Black Satellites (National Team of the Year), Juliana Arku, (Weightlifter of the Year), Abraham Aryitey (Badminton Player of the Year), Ophelia Swayne (Swimmer of the Year), Derick Abrefa (Male Tennis Player of the Year), Linda Annor (Female Table Tennis Player of the Year) and Emmanuel Nartey (Best Judo Fighter)
Special Awards will be presented to Messrs Kudjoe Fianoo, Nestor Galley, Shaban Mohammed, GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi, Kennedy Adjapong (Kenpong), and Nuru Bremansu for their meaningful contributions towards accelerated development of sports in the country.