US-based Scorchers striker Temwa Chawinga on Saturday emerged the the biggest winner of individual accolades during the Malawi Sport Awards at Sunbird Livingstonia Conference Centre in Salima after bagging two awards.
She won both the Sportswoman of the Year Award and the overall Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Ironically, it was her elder sister and France-based National Women’s Football Team captain Tabitha Chawinga who claimed both accolades during the previous edition.
Temwa, who was represented by her sister Isabelle at the ceremony, said in a telephone interview that it was a great honour to be the biggest winner.
“These awards are a great motivation for me. It makes me proud to be honoured in my homeland,” she said.
In 2025, the Kansas City Current FC forward won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the US National Women Soccer League (NWSL) for the second consecutive season to become the first player in the league’s 13-year history to win the accolade back-to-back.
The free-scoring striker also defended the NWSL Golden Boot after scoring 15 goals in 23 appearances to help her club secure their first-ever league title.
Temwa was also nominated for the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, 2025 Fifa Women’s Best Player, 2025 CAF Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year and was ranked sixth best player in the world by The Guardian newspaper of the UK.
At the awards, the Malawi Paralympic Committee (MPC) scooped the most awards with three. It was named the Sports Association of the Year and its ‘Before and After School’ initiative emerged as the best executed sports programme. MPC athlete Boyson Maseko won the Sportsman of the Year with Disability Award.
Chess Association of Malawi followed with two awards after being nominated in six categories. The association’s president Mpilo Mizere was named the best sports administrator while international chess arbiter Gilton Mkumbwa lifted the technical official of the year accolade.
Runner Amanda Khondowe, who was bronze medallist at the Region 5 Games in Namibia, claimed the Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year Award while athlete Nathan Chisale did it in the male section.
Special Olympics track and field athlete Nancy Verani won Sportswoman of the Year Award, pool player Grievin ‘Ginte’ Stanford was the Sportsman of the Year while athletics coach John Mwathiwa won the Coach of the Year Award.
Malawi netball legend Mary Waya claimed the inaugural Hall of Fame Award, which honours the most successful retired athletes, coaches and administrators.
Nation Publications Limited (NPL) senior news analyst Joy Ndovi bagged the Print Sports Journalist of the Year Award whereas Zodiak Broadcasting Station journalist Bright Kanyama did it in the electronic section.
Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Jim Kalua, whose entity organises the event, said the awards are a powerful platform for the country to recognise excellence, discipline and creativity that define the Malawi sports fraternity.
He also hailed the corporate world for their overwhelming support.
“At this year’s awards, sponsorship exceeded the initially budgeted projections. Corporate brands did not merely attend, they actively participated,” he said
“The private sector appears to be re-engaging with sport in a way that suggests renewed confidence.”
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata, who was the guest of honour, said government is committed to supporting sports growth in the country.
He also hailed Sports Council for hosting “a colourful and well organised event”.
