Italy-based women’s football star Tabitha Chawinga, South Africa-based footballer Frank Gabadinho Mhango and female boxer Ellen Simwaka have made the final list of the 2022 Malawi Sport Awards nominees.

Mhango has been nominated in the Sportsman of the Year category while Chawinga and Simwaka, who is based in South Africa, make the Sportswoman’s category.

To be the guest of honour: Chimwendo Banda

The awards are organised by the Malawi National Council of Sports and this year’s event is scheduled for tomorrow at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

Mhango, who plays for DStv Premiership side AmaZulu, was the third leading scorer at the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon in January this year and his goal against Morocco was nominated for CAF Africa Goal of the Year Award.

On the other hand, Simwaka won the International Boxing Federation Africa bantamweight title in May and successfully defended it in August while Chawinga won the Chinese Superleague Golden Boot before her loan move to Italy’s Serie A side Inter Milan.

Nominees for veterans’ awards are South Africa-based former Flames captain John Maduka, ex-Queens shooter Mary Waya, retired long-distance runner Henry Moyo and former women’s football referee Martha Nyenkanyeka.

Redeployed Flames coach Meck Mwase, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves mentor Enos Chatama and national athletics coach Pachisi Nyasulu have been nominated for the Best Coach Award.

The Flames, the Scorchers and the national beach soccer team will compete for the best team award.

Susan Namangale, James Chiutsi, Bright Limani, George Maguire, Vivek Ganesan and Thulani Maphosa have made the best sports administrator’s list.

Bernadetta Kwimbira-Mzika, Mercy Kayira and Easter Zimba make the referees’ list.

Times Group, MBC and Nation Publications Limited have been nominated for the best media house category.

Part of a statement issued by the Sports Council yesterday, reads: “Sports Council wishes to inform the general public and the sports fraternity that after going through a rigorous process of scrutinising different nominees for the 2022 Malawi National Sport Awards, the council has come up with the finalist for the 2022 sport awards.

“It should be noted that all processes and procedures in coming up with the final list were followed and different stakeholders and committees at different levels were consulted.”

The communiqué further states that each nominee will get K100 000 while the  winner in each category will get K500 000. The overall winner will get K1 million.

Meanwhile, in an interview yesterday, Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said all is set for the event and Minister of Youth and Spirts Richard Chimwendo Banda will be the guest of honour.

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