Page 19 - MALAWI SPORTS NEWSLETTER

Well done; Minister of Labour Honorable Vera Kamtukure (left) presents the coach

of the year award to Nyasa Big Bullets reserve coach Enos Chatama.

Other dignitaries at the event included deputy ministers and principal secretaries from di er-
ent ministries, Malawi National Council of Sports councillors, heads of di erent parastatals
and captains of the business industry and representatives of sports associations.

At its inception in 2018, celebrated female FIFA referee Bernadette Kwimbira was voted as the
Sport Personality of the Year after an impressive performance in the 2017-2018 sporting year
while, in 2019, Malawi women’s football national team striker Tabitha Chawinga was voted as
the Best Sports Personality. In 2020 and 2021, the awards failed to take place due to the
Covid-19 pandemic as government had put up Covid 19 preventive measure in order to avoid
the further spread of the virus. One of the measures taken was a ban on public gathering.

Considering that the awards did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the government ban
on large gatherings, and bearing in mind that there were some other sporting disciplines which
were conducting competitions indoors, Council felt that it was necessary to consider reward-
ing athletes who, during the time of Covid-19, continued to conduct activities and competi-
tions and had outstanding performances. As a result, this year’s awards recognized perfor-
mances of athletes from 2020-2022.

Malawi men ’s national football team striker Gabadinho Mhango was voted as the 2020-2022
Sports Personality of the Year. Mhango claimed the award after helping the Malawi National
Football Team. The Flames, reach the knockout stages of the 2021 TotalEnegies Africa Cup of
Nations in Cameroon. This was the first time for the flames to reach the knockout stage of the
competition and Mhango’s goals were very important.

ISSUE NO: 1 MNCS NOVEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER 19