Accra Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh
Accra Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has been nominated in two categories of the 46th edition of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards.
The youngster is in contention for the Sports Personality of the Year Award and the Premier League Male Footballer of the Year Award, following his exploits with the National Under 20 team and his club Accra Hearts of Oak.
Continental double with the Black Satellite and domestic treble with Hearts of Oak makes Barnieh ripe for the Sports Writers’ recognition.
“The General Assembly after critiquing the work done by the Awards Nominations Committee, endorsed and approved the final list of top performers for the 2020/21 calendar year which ended in September,” SWAG said in a statement.
Barnieh in the year under review led the Black Satellite to win both the WAFU and AFCON under20 trophies.
His brace with a Man-of-the-Match performance in the Afcon Final against Uganda ensured the Black Satellites clinch their second trophy in the year.
He also contributed immensely to the success story of Accra Hearts of Oak in the domestic terrain, as the Phobians won both the League and the FA Cup in the 2020/21 football season, automatically grabbing the Super Cup glory off field.
In a list released by the awards committee on Wednesday, Barnieh’s name appeared twice as SWAG recognises his leadership quality on and off the field in National colours, backed by his spectacular form that helped the Phobians end their 12 years of league drought.
He however has the National 4X100m Relay Team and the 2020 Olympics Bronze medalist Samuel Takyi of Ghana’s Amateur Boxing team to contend with for the Sports Personality of Year Award.
For the home based Best player of the Year Award, Barnieh faces tough challenges from Kotoko defender Ishmael Ganiu and Karela United’s Diawusie Taylor, who won the GPL goal king.
But he looks a bit well positioned over the two following his triumphant story with club and country, capping off his glories with 5 goals to the FA Cup top scorer award.
Barnieh won the FA Cup top scorer award with 5 goals
His former Teammate Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who now plays for Dreams FC is also in contention for the Discovery of the year award.
His two coaches at club and country Samuel Boadu and Karim Zito, respectively, are also facing each other in contention for the Coach of the Year Award.
The SWAG Awards is a platform to honor and reward outstanding sports personalities in the previous years and also serves as a motivation for athletes to excel in other to get the tag “SWAG Award Winner.”
The list also includes the SWAG Top 5 where Federations that had little or no support but was active in the year under review will be ranked through voting.
The 46th edition of the unbroken SWAG Awards is scheduled for December 2021.
Shortlist of nominees below
Sports Personality of the Year
4X100m Relay Team – Athletics
Samuel Takyi – Amateur Boxing
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – Football, Hearts
Footballer of the Year (Foreign)
Daniel Amartey [Leicester City]
Mohammed Kudus [Ajax]
Jonathan Mensah [Columbus Crew]
Footballer of the Year (Home Based)
Diawusie Taylor (Karela United)
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh (Hearts of Oak)
Ishmeal Ganiu (Asante Kotoko)
Female Footballer of the Year – Female
Constance Agyemang – Berry Ladies
Janet Agyiri – Hasaacas
Jafar Rahama – Northern Ladies/Hasaacas
Coach of the Year
Abdul Karim Zito (U20)
Christian Nsiah – Athletics
Samuel Boadu – Hearts
Coach Ofori Asare – Amateur Boxing
Yussif Basigi – Hasaacas Ladies
Athlete of the Year (Male)
Benjamin Azamati
Joseph Paul Amoah
Athlete of the Year (Female)
Deborah Acquah
Boxer of the Year (Professional)
Alfred Lamptey
Mohammed Aryeetey
John Abaja Laryea
Boxer of the Year (Amateur)
Samuel Takyi – Featherweight
SWAG Top 5 (Discipline Rank) Shortlist
Athletics
Amateur Boxing
Badminton
Chess
Rugby
Table Tennis
Tennis
Discovery of the Year
Constance Serwaa Agyemang [Football/Berry Ladies]
Fatawu Issahaku [Football/Steadfast]
Kamaldeen Sulemana
Unilez Takyi – Swimming
Administrator of Year
Evelyn Nsiah-Asare (Hasaacas Ladies)
George Okoe Lamptey (Ghana Boxing Federation)
Gifty Oware-Aboagye (Berry Ladies
SWAG President Award???
Ken Bediako
Corporate Award
Betway Ghana
Life Time Achievement
Stephen Appiah
Decorative Award
Togbe Afede XIV
Nana Bayin Eyison
Dedication and Valour
Coach Ofori Asare (Amateur Boxing)
Lawyer Ntow Fianko
Oduro Nyarko
Chess Player of the Year
Philip Selikem Yao Amoako
Badminton Player of the Year
Kelvin Alphous – Male
Prospera Nantuo – Female
Tennis Player of the Year
Male Samuel Agbesi Antwi – Male
Naa Shika Mackorley – Female
Swimming Athlete of the Year
Unilez Takyi