Sports Council board reshuffled

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) board of directors has been reshuffled barely four months after government appointed its members.

MNCS acting executive secretary Henry Mereka confirmed yesterday that the reshuffle has seen Tigresses and national team player Beatrice Mpinganjira dropped while her mother, seasoned netball administrator Hellen Mpinganjira, has been appointed alongside former Athletics Association of Malawi president Richard Nyirongo and Gladstone Kuyeri.

They have joined Charles Ulaya, Rozina Kazembe, Peter Kandikole, Rebecca Ndovi and Lieutenant General Clement Kafuwa (retired).

He said: “We received communication last week that Malawi National Council of Sports board has been confirmed with some changes. It appears there was a mix up on the name of Beatrice Mpinganjira. It was supposed to be her mother, Hellen Mpinganjira.

“There are also two other new appointments, Dr Richard Nyirongo and former Sports Council board member Gladstone Kuyeri. The rest of the board is intact with Dr Sunduzwayo Madise as chairperson and Rose Chinunda, who died yesterday was the vice-chairperson.”

Mereka commended the government for confirming the board as its absence affected the operations of the council.

“By not having the board, we were deprived of making some crucial decisions. If you  talk of Sports Council it’s the board,” he said.

Mereka also defended the time it has taken to confirm the board, saying it is procedural.

In an interview yesterday Hellen Mpinganjira confirmed her appointment, but declined to give details.

However, Beatrice said she has accepted the decision because she suspected that her appointment was a case of mistaken identity.

“I have been told that my appointment as board member was mistaken for my mum. It’s better since my mum is more experienced than I. As I said, I am still active in sports and I am yet to learn how to do my work as a board member representing my fellow athletes.

“I remember when my name came out, I told my mum and some of my friends that it could be a mix up. So I am not surprised that they have corrected it.”

In an interview yesterday, Madise confirmed being informed of the changes.

“We received appointment letters last week and I am aware of the changes. We need to sit down with the board before rolling out our plans,” he said.

In his reaction after the board was appointed last September, Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu was quoted by The Nation as having said the board was appointed on merit.