Sports fans raise eyebrows over MBC Golden Jubilee nominations
Some sports followers have questioned the mould used to short-list legendary nominees for MBC Golden Jubilee celebrations awards.
The state broadcaster is running adverts on MBC Radio, MBC Radio 2 and MBCtv inviting listeners and viewers to vote for the nominated legends in various categories.
Winners will be recognised at celebrations slated for December 5 at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The voting is supposed to end tomorrow.
Some of the legends, whose omission has raised eyebrows, are football commentator Stevie Liwewe-Banda; athletes Matthews Kambale and Ken Dzekedzeke; netballers Anne and Panganeni Nyanga and Emmie Tchongwe-Waya; boxers Drake Thadzi, Philimon Ayesu and Ali Faki; footballers Yasin Osman, Henry Kapalamula, Barnett Gondwe, Harry Waya, Stock Dandize, Boniface Maganga, Young Chimodzi, Holman and Kennedy Malunga, Frank Sinalo, Ernest Mtawali, Peterkins Kayira, Chance Gondwe and Peter Mponda.
“Most of those short-listed deserve to be there, but it is the omission of others that raises questions. So, the question is: What criterion was used to come up with the shortlists?
“For example, in football those that have been short-listed—Kinnah Phiri, Jack Chamangwana, Lawrence Waya and Cliffton Msiya—deserve to be there, no question about that, but what about others such as Osman, Gondwe and Maganga who were also big during their time. Similarly, it would be incomplete to come up with a list of legendary commentators without including Stevie Banda,” said soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda.
Short-listed commentators/sports presenters include Pearson Chunga, Elias Kapangama, Geoffrey Msampha, Prescott Gonani and Davis Mussa.
Nyirenda argued that the organising team should have consulted widely.
Another sports follower, Blessings Somanje, argued that the voting process should have been left open.
“Maybe MBC should explain the criterion used to come up with the nominees,” said Somanje.
MBC spokesperson Ruth Gama promised to respond to our questionnaire on Thursday on what criterion was used to determine the nominees, but she had not done so at press time.
