Bashir’s omission on council awards startles boxing board
The omission of African Boxing Union (ABU) champion Anisha Bashir from the list of award winners in the inaugural Malawi Sport Awards, has startled the Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB).
MPBCB president Lonzoe Zimba questioned the criteria used by Malawi National Council of Sports (MNSC) in nominating and choosing the winners. Bashir won the ABU super lightweight after beating Kenyan Consolota Musanga last December.
“If we are to be truthful it is boxing that carried the Malawi flag higher in 2017 and if we are to be precise it is Anisha Bashir that represented the country well by winning a belt at continental level. It really is a shame that she did not win any award.
“The fact that the whole Cabinet recognised Bashir’s achievement and rewarded her accordingly, should have been taken in consideration by MNSC,” said Zimba.
He also felt aggrieved that boxing referee Mbachichi Nyirenda was eclipsed by football referee Bernadette Kwimbira-Nzika in the best referee/judges/umpires category.
“I think Nyirenda did a lot last year. On several occasions, he officiated international fights outside Malawi. Boxing is more popular than cricket in which his competitors were rewarded,” said Zimba.
Bashir also expressed shock that she missed out.
“To be honest, I felt bad that MNSC did not recognise my achievement. It is not easy to win a continental belt. It was down to commitment and hard work and I had to fight my lungs out. It was the Malawi flag that was raised and I thought I deserved recognition,” she said in an interview.
However, MNSC executive secretary George Jana in response said it is important for people to understand that criteria for nomination does not concentrate on results alone.
He said there are other factors such as consistency, exemplary behaviour and professionalism, fair play, creativity and novelty, willingness to promote the development of the sport, positive influence on others and the general community, time management and ability to follow rules.
“From the criteria we used, I am sure one can appreciate why others were nominated but did not win and why others were not nominated at all. The idea is to promote the sport and the talent therein and not necessarily the popularity of the person referred to as an athlete. Some people are just likeable and can easily win if left to the public vote but may not be the deserving ones.
“Similarly, everyone in Malawi has their opinion as to who may be the deserving winners, and we may not know nor agree on their criteria for choice. In fact one of this programme’s agenda is to inculcate a sport of tolerance and acceptance which defines professionalism in sport. We just congratulate the winners and emphasise that there can only be one winner per category at a time and it is a competition between an array of sports disciplines,” said Jana.
