The Malawi Authorities has hailed the Malawi Nationwide Council of Sports activities (MNCS) for its prestigious annual Malawi Sport Award initiative, describing it as an important platform for selling sports activities excellence and instilling a hardworking spirit amongst athletes, coaches, directors, and associations.
Minister of Youth and Sports activities, Uchizi Mkandawire, made the remarks in the course of the sixth version of the Malawi Sport Award ceremony held at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi, the place 14 classes have been acknowledged for his or her excellent performances within the 2024 season.
Mkandawire praised MNCS for the consistency and professionalism displayed because the awards’ inception, including that the initiative is considerably contributing to the expansion of sports activities within the nation.
“As authorities, we’re excited with the management at MNCS for his or her dedication to selling sports activities. These awards function a motivational device, and since their introduction, there was a notable enchancment in efficiency throughout numerous sporting disciplines,” stated Mkandawire.
The Minister, nevertheless, acknowledged the monetary constraints going through the sports activities sector, saying authorities alone can’t meet the funding wants of all sporting associations. He, subsequently, appealed to the company world to companion with the federal government to uplift numerous sporting disciplines.
“We’re dedicated to offering sources and funding in direction of sports activities growth, however authorities alone can’t do all the pieces. We’d like the company world to companion with us to assist enhance sports activities in any respect ranges,” he stated.
He additional urged sports activities associations to display transparency and accountability of their operations, emphasizing that lack of seriousness and mismanagement discourages potential sponsors from investing in sports activities.
MNCS Chief Govt Officer, Dr. Henry Kamata, described the 2024 awards as one of the crucial aggressive editions as a result of rigorous scrutiny the nominees underwent.
Kamata highlighted the dominance of Cricket Malawi, which scooped three awards — Crew of the 12 months, Coach of the 12 months, and Affiliation of the 12 months — as a testomony to the game’s fast growth within the nation.
“Cricket’s efficiency is an indication that the game is making outstanding strides in Malawi. This could encourage different sporting disciplines to emulate their dedication and exhausting work,” stated Kamata.
He reiterated that MNCS stays dedicated to implementing its 4 strategic pillars: athlete growth, capability constructing for technical officers, infrastructure growth, and governance promotion.
Cricket Malawi’s Head of Operations, Arjun Menon, attributed their success to exhausting work and teamwork, pledging to keep up their momentum within the coming years.
“We’re grateful for this recognition, which is a mirrored image of our exhausting work in 2024. These awards will encourage us to do even higher in upcoming competitions,” stated Menon.
Among the many different notable winners was France-based ladies’s soccer star, Tabitha Chawinga, who claimed each Sports activities Persona of the 12 months and Sports activities Lady of the 12 months awards.
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Within the media class, Instances Group journalist Mphatso Malidadi received Print Sports activities Journalist of the 12 months, whereas Digital Sports activities Journalist of the 12 months went to Raymond Siyaya Junior.
Netball Affiliation of Malawi (NAM) President, Vitumbiko Gubuduza, was named Sports activities Administrator of the 12 months, whereas Chess in Colleges Program took the Greatest Executed Sports activities Growth Program award.
Taonere Banda and Moses Misoya received Sports activities Lady of the 12 months with Incapacity and Sports activities Man of the 12 months with Incapacity, respectively, whereas Tasunje Kaveya and Samantha Mwamondwe have been topped Junior Male Sports activities Individual of the 12 months and Junior Feminine Sports activities Individual of the 12 months.
The 2024 Malawi Sport Award was held below the theme: Celebrating Sporting Excellence.