Fischer, Harawa, Simkonda shortlisted for Player of Year

The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has nominated16 players for various awards with Big Bullets veteran Fischer Kondowe and Moyale Barracks’ Gastin Simkonda and McDonald Harawa shortlisted for Player of the Year Award.

Sulom treasurer Tiya Somba Banda, standing in for general secretary Williams Banda, announced through a press release on Monday that for the first time, the stand-out players will have to be voted through short text messaging (SMS). Sulom has all along been determining the winners through in-house mechanisms.

“For one to vote, you have to send the word SULOM to 08 81 428 222 and you will be asked to vote for your favourite goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, best technical and player of the season,” reads the statement.

There are five categories to be voted for with Harawa, who has established himself as Flames first choice goalkeeper, dominating with two nominations in best goalkeeper award section. Kondowe’s name also appears on best midfielder category.

The rest of the players appear in single categories, including best defender, best midfielder. There is also a section for technical panel of the season whose nominated coaches are from Moyale, Silver Strikers, Bullets and Tigers.

Simkonda on Monday could not react to his nomination, but simply said he would respect whatever choice the voters would make. At stake are various cash prizes, which Sulom did not disclose, but previous top scorers could pocket in the range of K100 000 (about $200).

The public vote will constitute a percentage of the whole process, which will see a Sulom panel evaluating the final votes. Voting closes this Friday at 4 pm. Prize presentation will take place on the same day at a venue yet to be communicated.

The nominees for these five categories are as follows:

—Best Goalkeeper: Vincent Gona, McDonald Harawa, Blessings Kameza and Richard Chipuwa

—Best defender: Francis Mulimbika, Yamikani Fodya, Sankhani Mkandawire and Emmanuel Zoya

—Best midfielder: Fischer Kondowe, Henry Kabichi, Phillip Masiye, Mike Kaziputa and Dalitso Sailesi

—Best technical panel: Big Bullets, Moyale Barracks FC, Silver Strikers and Azam Tigers

—Player of the Season: Fischer Kondowe, Gastin Simkonda and McDonald Harawa.