Sports enthusiast Edwin Mbewe believes some overlooked Malawian sporting disciplines have the potential to help the country achieve international recognition, following the recent success of para-sports and women’s football at the 2023 Malawi Sports Awards ceremony held in Lilongwe on Friday night.
Para-sports emerged as the standout performer, clinching accolades such as Best Executed Sporting Discipline, Sports Administrator of the Year and The Individual Sports Award, all bestowed on James Chiutsi, President of the Malawi Paralympic Committee.
Hanna Winesi, a Special Olympics Lawn Tennis player, was honoured as the Sportswoman of the Year with a disability while Mphatso Saukire, an athletics competitor, was crowned Sportsman of the Year with a disability.
“This simply demonstrates our capability to elevate and propel other sports disciplines to the highest levels,” remarked Mbewe.
The Malawi National Women’s Team, known as the Scorchers, was celebrated as the Sports Team of the Year following their remarkable victory at the 2023 HollywoodBets COSAFA Championship in South Africa.
Furthermore, Lovemore Fazili, coach of the Scorchers, was named Best Sports Coach of the Year, with Temwa Chawinga, the team’s prolific striker, honoured as the best Sports Personality of the Year.
Mbewe emphasized the importance of investing in minority sports, stating, “Authorities should allocate resources to these minority codes, as they could one day become our flagbearers in major tournaments, bringing medals to the country.”
Among other notable recognitions, the Football Association of Malawi was named the best Sports Code while Kalisto Pasuwa, coach of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets received the Non-Citizen Award.
Junior Sports Woman of the Year was awarded to Victoria Mkwala, with swimmer Luke Chimwemwe Smit named Junior Sports Personality in the male category, and UK-based Taekwondo athlete Yamikani Guba honored as Sportsman of the Year.
Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima graced the event and urged athletes to consider sports as a career.
He further advised the Malawi National Sports Council to engage the corporate sector in sponsoring sporting activities.
The awards, initiated in 2017, aim to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Malawian athletes.
