Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah faces stiff from his captain Asamoah Gyan for the 2013 Sports Writers Association of Ghana Sports Personality of the Year Award on Saturday night.
This is the first time in the history of the awards that a coach has been shortlisted for the topmost prize of the awards which has been held 38 times.
Appiah made the cut for masterminding Ghanaââ¬â¢s qualification to the World Cup as the first indigenous coach to chalk such a gargantuan feat.
Gyan captained the team and emerged top scorer in the African World Cup qualifying series.
His rich vein of scoring form for his UAE side Al Ain makes him a genuine contender for the coveted award.
But the two football icons must beat off competition from weightlifter Juliana Arku, who became the most decorated Ghanaian in a single sport event at an international competition, after winning six medals at last yearââ¬â¢s African Championship in Morocco.
Italy-based duo Kwadwo Asamoah and Sulley Ali Muntari will vie for the Menââ¬â¢s Footballer of the Year.
Granadaââ¬â¢s Clifford Aboagye will honoured as Discovery of the Year) and his Ghana U20 teammate Ebenezer Assifuah, now with Swiss side FC Sion, named the Most Promising Star.
Hasaacas Ladies are Best Female Club of the Year and theà 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup bronze medal winning team named National Team of the Year.
Special Awards will be presented to Messrs Kudjoe Fianoo (AshantiGold Chief Executive), GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi, Kennedy Adjapong (Kenpong), and Nuru Bremansu for their meaningful contributions towards accelerated development of sports in the country.
The 39thà edition of the MTN?SWAG Awards night will be held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.