Sports Council board excites affiliates
Government has appointed new Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) board of directors that is studded with experienced administrators, raising hopes it could steer sports to another level.
According to a statement issued by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zangazanga Chikhosi on Wednesday, Dean of Law at Chancellor College Sunduzwayo Madise is the chairperson while former Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rose Chinunda will deputise him.
Other members are Queens player Beatrice Mpinganjira, Charles Ulaya Banda, Rosina Kazembe, Peter Kandikole, Rebecca Ndovi and Brigadier Clement Kafuwa, who is a seasoned sports administrator and golfer.
Madise is one of the founders of Super League of Malawi and served as its first chairperson.
In his reaction, Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu observed that the board was appointed on merit.
“We welcome the new board and look forward to working with them. Of course, they have been appointed based on merit and they all have the requisite experience in sports,” he said.
NAM general secretary Carol Bapu said she expects MNCS to improve the handling of netball affairs.
She said: “Chinunda is our immediate past president. She has vast expertise in netball administration. We feel that with her deputising Sunduzwayo Madise, who has more experience in football administration, sport is going to gain ground.
“Beatrice is a senior member of the Queens meaning she is aware of the opportunities and challenges netball is facing. She is a complete administrator having successfully completed an advanced certificate course with University of Pretoria.”
In an interview, Chinunda, who served as NAM president for over 10 years, said she was excited to be part of the board.
“I didn’t expect it at all but I have accepted to be part of the council. I believe that my experience as sports administrator will help me contribute something to the board,” she said.
Mpinganjira, who plays for Blantyre outfit First Choice Tigresses, said she was surprised with her appointment.
“I am still active as a player so I was really surprised to see my name there. Nonetheless, I am pleased to be part of the board,” she said.
Mpinganjira said her main focus will be to push the agenda of the welfare of athletes in the country.
“There are issues to do with low wages, tough working conditions and all that. As an active athlete, I know what we go through and it’s time we get better solutions,” she said.
