Defender John Lanjesi was on Friday voted best player of the year at Nyasa Big Bullets Red Carpet Awards Gala at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.
He was also named best defender of the year and received K500 000 and K300 000, respectively.
The best striker award went to Chiukepo Msowoya while Mike Mkwate and Rabson Chienda were best midfielder and best goalkeeper of the awards respectively.
“I am very excited with the awards. They give me strength to work even harder next season. It is my wish that the next event should have more awards to motivate more players,” said Lanjesi.
Bullets supporters were asked to vote for their preferred outstanding players for the 2018 season positions of goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker by SMSing through code *477# at K50.
The TNM Super League champions’ senior business development manager Kelvin Moyo yesterday said Lanjesi emerged player with the most votes to take the overall best player award.
“Lanjesi tightly contested for the best player award with Msowoya. He got 1 100 votes against Msowoya’s 950 votes,” he said.
Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said it was fulfilling to have organised a colourful event alongside their 12 corporate partners.
He said the gala has set the pace for more awards to motivate players to work harder throughout a season.
On the plea to increase the number of awardees, he said: “We would consider that, but our belief is we would dilute the purpose of the awards if more players win. A few players should win to promote competitiveness.”
The awards also recognised best performers in the club’s reserve side.
Elias Missi was named best goalkeeper, Charles Petro the best defender and Hassan Kajoke the best striker.
Chimwemwe Idana grabbed both the best midfielder and best player awards. n
