Finalists Announced for Inaugural Otara Sports Awards

Finalists Announced for Inaugural Otara Sports Awards

35 finalists have been announced for the inaugural Otara Sports Awards which will honour and celebrate the sporting achievements of local sports people on Saturday 2 December at the Hope Centre in Otara.

“I’m extremely honoured and excited to announce the inaugural finalists for the Otara Sports Awards,” says Lotu Fuli, Chair of the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and one member of the judges’ panel.

“All our finalists are outstanding sports people who have made strong contributions this year as part of their respective clubs, teams or sports. The Otara Sports Awards will shine a light on their sporting achievements and ensure that they are recognised for their dedication and hard work as athletes, coaches and administrators in the Otara community,” she says.

Manukau Institute of Technology sponsors both the Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards which has the likes of the sportsman Tui Amosa feature for his performances in Football (Soccer) for the South Auckland Rangers together with Marco Talagi of the Otara Scorpians Rugby League Club and Azariah Toki-Mautairi from the East Tamaki Rugby Club.

In the Junior Sportswoman category all three finalists are multi-sport athletes with Melodee Fuli participating in Tag, Rugby League and Athletics, Michaela Matautia in Tag, Touch Rugby, Rugby League, Rugby Union as well as Nive Taulanga of Tangaroa College showcasing her talents in Rugby League, Rugby Union and Tag.

New Zealand Under 20s Womens Touch Rugby representative Tamika Flavell is a finalist in the Sportswoman of the Year category sponsored by East Tamaki Healthcare alongside three sport athlete Josephine Murray-Stowers (Tag, Touch Rugby, Netball) and Elizabeth Bates a weightlifter from the Otara Barbell Club.

The Sportsman of the Year category sponsored by Vector Wero Whitewater Park includes Ian Katoa for Muay Thai Kickboxing, Ritesh Kumar for Football (Soccer) as well as George Crichton of the East Tamaki Rugby Club.

The Southseas Healthcare Trust Coach of the Year award consists of three finalists, David Fa’alili of East Tamaki Rugby Club, Josephine Murrary-Stowers of the Otara Scorpions Rugby League Club as well as Daniel Nemani from the Otara Barbell Club.

Also up for grabs is the Team of the Year award sponsored by the Vodafone Events Centre with the East Tamaki Bowls Triples Team, East Tamaki Rugby Club’s Premier side and the Otara Barbell Club’s weightlifting team vying for the prize.

The inaugural Otara Sports Awards is being held at the Hope Centre, Otara at 5 Birmingham Road. Tickets to the awards have sold out with the event generating plenty of interest amongst the local community.

There are 14 categories in total, other awards presented during the night include administrator of the year, official of the year, service to sports as well as a uniquely abled award. A Supreme Winner, sponsored by the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, will be announced on the awards night.

The inaugural Otara Sports Awards will also feature the first class of inductees into Otara’s Hall of Fame including Rugby League heroes Ruben Wiki, Tawera Nikau, NZ Sevens legend Eric Rush and Silver Ferns great Temepara Bailey (nee George). Each will receive a lifetime achievement award before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

ENDS

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