THE Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby team, the Sables, are basking in glory after being named 2024 Team of the Year at the Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA), which were held at Cresta Lodge in Harare on Sunday night.
The team was rewarded for an outstanding year in which they won the Africa Cup in Uganda and made history by going the entire year unbeaten.
The Sables capped off a historic, unbeaten year with a hard-fought 27-22 victory over South Korea in a rain-soaked encounter at the Incheon Stadium in November last year.
The victory came barely a week after the Sables pulled off a commanding 62-22 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
After a stellar 2024 season, the Sables climbed to a decade-high 28th place in the World Rugby Rankings.
It was a deserved recognition for the team at the Sports and Recreation Commission-organised awards.
Team coach Pieter Benade was delighted by the recognition and is already looking to bring more success to the team this year.
“It’s amazing for the effort to be recognised and achievements to be celebrated. Now we’ve got a big job ahead—to make another special year happen that all Zimbabwean sports fans can be proud of,” he said.
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Captain Hilton Mudariki, who received his 50th cap for the Sables away in South Korea, along with Simbarashe Mandioma, could not hide his joy following the accolade.
"It’s a special feeling to win Team of the Year [award]. It’s a true testament to how hard the team worked throughout 2024," he said.
Team manager Takunda ‘TJ’ Chifokoyo highlighted the broader impact of the award.
“What an incredible achievement. To be recognised by the greater sports community is a testament to the hard work that the boys put in. We are honoured to be the Team of the Year and look forward to making our nation proud again in 2025,” Chifokoyo said.
The biggest winner of the night was US-based sprinter Tapiwa Makarawu after he was voted the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year for his exploits, which saw him reach the final of the 200m race at the Paris Olympics and finished sixth.
The 24-year-old, who also bagged the Sportsman of the Year award, won a silver medal at the African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, while he managed a string of sub-21 second runs in the 200m event across competitive meets in the US circuit.
Swimmer Paige Van Der Westhuizen won the Sportswoman of the Year accolade while female cricketer Kelis Ndhlovu was the Junior Sportsperson of the Year, having been voted Junior Sportswoman of the Year.
Young sprinter David Nyamufarira won the Junior Sportsman of the Year gong.
It was a big night for Zimbabwe Cricket, who were recognised as the National Sports Association of the year.
Cricket umpire Langton Rusere won the Technical Official of the Year award while Tatenda Bango and Kudakwashe Chigwedere scooped the Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability and the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability accolades, respectively.
Full list of winners
Sports Person of the Year
Tapiwa Makarawu (Athletics)
Junior Sports Person of the Year
Kelis Ndlovu (Cricket)
Junior Sports Woman of the Year
Kellis Ndlovu (Cricket)
Junior Sportsman of the Year
David Nyamufarira (Athletics)
Junior Sports Woman of the Year with a Disability
Tawananyasha Salem Mlanda (Special Olympics)
Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Wisdom Chapwanya (Paralympics)
Sports Woman of the Year
Paige Van Der Westhuizen (Swimming)
Sportsman of the Year
Tapiwa Makarawu (Athletics)
Sports Woman of the Year with a Disability
Tinotenda Bango (Paralympics)
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Kudakwashe Chigwedere (Paralympics)
Professional Boxing and Wrestling Promoter of the Year
Lindsay Earle
Professional Boxing
Outstanding Professional Male Boxer
Hassan Milanzi
Outstanding Professional Female Boxer
Monica Mkandla
Coach of the Year
Piet Benade (Rugby)
Technical Official of the Year
Langton Rusere (Cricket)
Team of the Year
Zimbabwe Sables (Rugby)
Administrator of the Year
Carol Pakenham (Triathlon)
National Sport Association of the Year
Zimbabwe Cricket
Women in Sport Award
Precious Pazani (Rugby)
Sport Reporter of the Year
Ellina Mhlanga ( The Herald)
Sport Journalist of the Year- Electronic
Ash Tikiwa (Star FM Zimpapers)
Sport Media House of the Year
Zimbabwe Television Network
Corporate Sponsor of the Year
Delta Beverages
National Team Sponsor of the Year
Nedbank Zimbabwe
Club Corporate Partner of the Year
Sakunda Holdings Group of Companies
Special Acknowledgement Award for the Promotion of Sport Diplomacy and Positive Profiling Zimbabwe Sport
Stanley Mutoya (African Union Sports Council Region 5)
Post Humous Special Acknowledgement Award
Aaron Jani (Zimbabwe Rugby Union)
