Garry retains Standard Bank award

Nation Publications Limited (NPL) senior news analyst Garry Chirwa on Friday became the only reporter to reclaim the top prize in the Standard Bank Media Competition for excellent coverage of the bank’s Knockout Football Trophy.
The award-winning sports journalist received K200 000, a trophy and a certificate from Standard Bank head of marketing Chimwemwe Matonga at the bank’s regional office in Blantyre for excelling in the print media category.
Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) up-and-coming sports reporter Lusayo Kanyika was Chirwa’s runner-up and received K100 000.
In the radio category, Zodiak Broadcasting Station’s (ZBS) Mike Bango scooped the award after displacing last year’s winner, Peter Fote of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to second position.
Super Smile Media’s Saulos Thindwa did it in the television section. The prize money for television and radio categories was the same as that of the print category.
The chief judge of the media competition, Maclan Kanyang’wa, described Chirwa’s entries as pieces that demonstrated high-level knowledge of the trophy’s history.
“When we analysed the entries, we did not just look at a single entry, but a portfolio of great pieces. However, entries of this journalist [Chirwa], were rich in language and colour associated with the Standard Bank brand,” said Kanyang’wa.
Chirwa said he was happy that he has won the award back to back because “it is uncommon for one to reclaim the award considering the tough competition from other contestants.”
While describing the 2013 tournament as a great success, Matonga said the bank organises the media gala to appreciate the role journalists play in promoting its brand and he promised to come back next year.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda thanked Standard Bank for the support towards  improvement of football standards in the country.