Boxing, chess dominate Sports Awards
Chess and boxing dominated Malawi National Council of Sports (MNSC) awards on Friday at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe.
The event was graced, by among others, Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Grace Chiumia, diplomats and African Sports Council Union Region Five chief executive officer (CEO) Stanley Muthoya of Botswana.
Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Susan Namangale won Best Sports Administrator, chess player Chiletso Chipanga was named Sportsman of the Year while Chess in Schools initiative got the Best Executed Sports Programme of the Year.
Chessam also won the Best Association of the Year Award.
Namangale overcame Professional Golfers president Shycal Patridge and Masters Security Football Club chairperson Alfred Gangata.Association (PGA Malawi)
Female boxer Anisha Bashir was voted Best Female Sportswoman of the Year as well as overall Sportsperson of the Year.
She beat Yamikani Chester and Tabitha Chawinga for the Best Sportsperson of the Year.
Best Sportsman of the Year was won by Chipanga, who won African Chess Amateurs Championship in Livingstone, Zambia last year.
He beat footballer Yamikani Chester and athlete Kephas Kasten.
Swimmer Lakshitta Dutt of Bishop Mackenzie won the Best Under-17 Sportswoman while Blessings Kamanga won the Best Under-17 Award for the men’s category.
The Under-20 national netball team won the National Team of the Year accolade and coach Christina Mkwanda-Msinji was named Coach of the Year beating Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve coach Enos Chatama and Masters Security coach Abbas Makawa.
Sportswoman with Disability Award went to Mphatso Chiphwanya who beat Bertha Nysoni and Agnes Lekaleka.
Alinafe Puwa won the Best Sportsman Disability Award.
Chitipa won the Best Sports District award.
Fifa assistant female referee Bernadettar Kwimbira Mzika won the Best Referee/Umpire/Judge Award.
In her speech, Chiumia thanked the MNCS for the initiative, saying it is a motivation to sports associations and athletes to do well.
“Sports not only has the power to unify people but also contributes to national development. Through these annual awards you have managed to inspire both associations and sports persons to perform to their best. As government we applaud you for a job well done,” she said.
Speaking on her achievement Bashir said she will now work hard to maintain her success on global competitions.
“I am overwhelmed with emotions. I didn’t expect this. These awards will inspire me to do much better and raise the national flag to greater heights. I thank MNCS for recognising my talents” she said.
Namangale, too, was joyous.
“This is owed to focus and having a strategy to develop the sport. This is also a sign of commitment and passion for the game. We implement our chess programmes with limited resources and this is possible if you believe in what you do,” she said.
MNCS executive secretary George Jana said his organisation will continue to award excellence in sports with the objective of spurring athletes to perform to their potential and put the country on the world map.
The awards were introduced last year in line with the Region Five sports development blueprint.
