The finalists for this year’s Samoan Sports Awards feature some of New Zealand’s high profile sportsmen and sportswomen, and is a mix of some very experienced and young sporting personalities in a wide variety of sports.

Rugby dominates the senior sportsman finalists with both All Black Ma’a Nonu, and NZ Sevens captain DJ Forbes, alongside Kiwi League International Steve Matai.

Previous two time winner of the senior sportswoman of the year award and current Silver Fern Sheryl Scanlan makes this list again alongside Frances Solia, captain of the Samoan Netball Team, and South Pacific Overall Women’s Bodybuilding champion Viola Etuata.

Rugby, soccer, and softball feature for coach of the year with De La Salle College rugby assistant coach Andrew Vaa, NZ Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase and NZ Men’s soccer U17 coach Tuua.

Karate features in the junior sportswoman category with Oceania gold medallist Jasmine Holland, and Australian open gold medallist Mckenzie Tuala-Pine, alongside NZ women’s soccer Olympic representative, Renee Leota.

Youngest member of the NZ Olympic swimming team Orinoco Faamausili Banse-Prince is a finalist for Junior Sportsman, alongside national Junior waka ama (outrigger) champion Joshua Perese, and NZ Warrior Ben Matulino.

Vying for the team award are the Samoan netball team, Team Samoa bodybuilding, and the South Auckland Volley ball Club.

The referee award, has two finalists this year with Auckland Rugby’s very experienced Velio Sanele, and long time NZ boxing referee Ali Afakasi.

Rugby features again for the Administrator Award with Auckland Rugby’s John Roache, Teachers Eastern Rugby Football Clubs Tracy Helleur, and Fetuaoina Ah Young from Auckland Samoa Soccer Association.

Finalists for the ANZ Pacific Sports Personality of the Year Award will also be named later this month and we are now calling for nominations. This Award is open to sports people of pacific descent, who are current NZ residents, and recognises their achievements over the last 12 months. You can send your nomination through to [email protected], Nominations close for this award on Friday 14 November 2008 and the winner of this award is decided by public online voting.

The 2008 Samoa Sports Awards will be held at the Telstra Events Centre in Manukau on Saturday 13 December 2008. Contact the Samoa Sports Association on 09-6231787 for more information.