Sports awards back next month
The Malawi National Council of Sports’ (MNCS) National Sports Awards return on February 22 at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
MNCS executive secretary George Jana said at the weekend that the second edition of the national awards, which aim to encourage sports personalities to aim high in their accomplishments, will be bigger and better than the inaugural event last year.
“We have arranged it in a way that it should not go down in standards as compared to last year’s event. Expect bigger and better awards,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jana said they have asked sports associations to come up with their nominations but, unfortunately, they have not been forthcoming.
“But we expect them to nominate deserving sports personalities and we will engage them,” he said.
Fifa referee Bernadetter Kwimbira-Nzika, who scooped the overall sportsperson of the year accolade aside from emerging as the best in the referees/umpires/judges category last year, said the awards are a big motivational tool for sports personalities and she is proud to be the inaugural overall winner.
“It is good that the council has decided to organise this event annually because it encourages us to work extra hard. I feel proud to be among the first recipients of the awards,” she said.
Last year, Malawi Under-17 football team was named team of the year with Under-20 national football team striker Peter Banda winning the sportsman’s award.
China-based women football export Tabitha Chawinga became the sportswoman of the year as Griffin Star FC coach Griffin Saenda Junior was voted coach of the year.
Mulanje District was voted the Sports District of the Year while athlete Cecilia Mhango, who won a couple of medals in international competitions last year, got the young sports female of the year accolade while chess youngster Yebo Sanga won the male accolade.
Malawi Paralympics Committee president James Chiutsi was named best administrator of the year as First Capital Bank Under-20 Football League grabbed the best sports development programme of the year accolade. Zodiak Broadcasting Station was crowned media house of the year.
