Accra, Jan 02, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has released the list of distinguished sports personalities for its prestigious annual awards.

A statement from the secretariat of the Association named the current International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion, Joseph Agbeko as the 2007 Sports personality of the year.

The 27 year old gave Ghana her first world title in nine years after beating Luis Perez in September last year, to win the IBF bantamweight title.

Agbeko will also take home the Professional Boxer of the Year Award. The Association has also nominated Black Stars trio, Laryea Kingston, Micheal Essien and Sulley Muntari to vie for the Male Footballer of the Year title.

Other nominees are Team of the Year - The National Amputee Team, which won half of the 24 medals won by the nation at the last All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.

Coach Samuel Armstrong Aidoo of the National Amputee Team has also been nominated as the Coach of the Year, with Rev Cornelius Adja Coffie of the National Paralympic Team as the Chairman of the Year. The rest are; Hajara Mohamed - Female Athlete of the Year, Ransford Osei (Kessben FC) - Promising Player of the Year, Discovery of the Year - Mussa Narry (Etoile Du Sahel) Dedication and Valour - John Ainoo (Sekondi Hasaacas), Special Meritorious Award - Ataa Eddie Pappoe President of Africa Boxing Ring Officials.

Others are Male Hockey Player of the Year, - Joseph Appiah (Golden Sticks), Female Hockey Player of the Year - Mirable Lamptey (Fire Service), Handball Player of the Year - Rosina Lomo, Cyclist of the Year - Afful Williams.

The Association will also confer special honours on the Golden Sticks for wining the Bronze Medal at the 2007 Africa Hockey Clubs Championship held in Cairo, Egypt recently. Mr Daniel Arhin a financier of national Amputee Team will also receive special honours.

The statement said the second batch of the award winners would be announced in due course.