Sulom announces best defender nominees
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has announced five nominees for the 2023 TNM Super League Best Defender Award.
The five are Chitipa United skipper Chris Lwemba, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers captain Stanley Sanudi, his team-mate Lawrence Chaziya, FCB Nyasa Bullets’ Clyde Senaji and Silver Strikers’ Tatenda M’balaka.
Out of the five, Lwemba earned five man-of-the-match awards, which gives him an edge over the others.
Sanudi has two while the rest have one each.
Further statistics show that the Nomads, who finished third, had a solid defence as they conceded the least number of goals, 16, followed by runners-up Silver who let in 18 while champions FCB Nyasa Bullets conceded 19.
Bullets’ Gomezgani Chirwa won the award last season as well as player of the season, but has not been nominated for any award this season.
Reacting to the list, football analyst Kevin Moyo said: “The list is on point and the selection team has to be commended because these were the defenders that stood out.
“In my view, it will be tight though I feel Senaji has a slight edge.”
The flagship league governing body was also expected to release the list of best midfielder nominees as we went to press.
Last week, the top-flight league runners also unveiled four nominees for the Player of the Season Award, namely Silver’s midfielder Chimwemwe Idana, Dedza Dynamos striker Clement Nyondo, who won the league’s golden boot, Mighty Tigers goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu and Bullets attacker Patrick Mwaungulu.
Idana had seven man-of-the-match accolades, eight assists and eight goals in 23 games while Nyondo had two man-of-the-match awards, no assist and 16 goals in 27 matches.
On his part, Nyasulu kept 12 clean sheets and saved five penalties in 28 matches while Mwaungulu had four man-of-the-match awards, eight goals and nine assists in 26 matches.
Meanwhile, according to the league’s statistics, out of 509 players who took part, only eight had a run in all 30 matches for their respective teams.
These are Lughano Kayira and Justice Chihoma of Dedza Dynamos, Karonga United’s Justice Banda, James Gondwe of Red Lions, Mighty Tigers duo of Kelvin Banda and Masiya Manda, Wanderers’ Wisdom Mpinganjira and Silver’s Maxwell Paipi.
