About 391 sports journalist in Ghana to decide SWAG Footballer of the year 2022 winner

About 391 sports journalist in Ghana will decide who wins the 2022 SWAG Footballer of the Year Award.

Ajax Amsterdam star Mohammed Kudus could join Thomas Partey and Andre Ayew as two-time winners of the prestigious SWAG Footballer of the Year Award.

Arsenal midfielder Partey (2018 and 2019) together with Andre Ayew (2011 and 2015) have each won the coveted prize twice and Kudus could join them if he wins it. The 22-year-old was voted the Footballer of the Year in the 2021 edition.

But, that decision rests in the hands of 391 eligible members of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) in the West African country who have started casting their votes for the nominees in the category.

Kudus was by far Ghana’s best performer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar – winning the MVP award in the Black Stars’ 3-2 victory over South Korea. He also became the first Ghanaian player to score a brace in a single World Cup game.

The former Right to Dream Academy graduate played 50 games for both club and country, scoring 17 goals in the process.

Partey played an important role in Ghana’s qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup when he scored a vital goal against Nigeria at the Mo`shood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja. Within the calendar year, he made 33 appearances for Arsenal scored 3 goals.

Ghana captain Ayew was also in action for Qatari side Al-Sadd where he played 28 times for them in the Stars League, scoring 14 goals in the process.

In other categories where journalists would also cast their votes, sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah, boxer Abraham Mensah and Mohammed Kudus are challenging for the SWAG Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Meanwhile, Tripler jumper Abigail Kwarteng and USA-based Deborah Acquah along with high jumper Rose Yeboah have entered into a hot race to win the 2022 SWAG Female Athlete of the Year Award.

The race for the 2022 Male Athlete of the Year is gradually gathering steam and pace with 100 meters specialist Benjamin Azamati battling Joseph Paul Amoah for the top award and journalists in the country will play a major role in who wins the contest.

Both Azamati and Amoah contested at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Journalists who are eligible to vote have been sent the access link to cast their ballots in the various categories.