Be Forward Wanderers’ Annual Awards Committee is targeting K10 million from their gala set for Comesa Hall in Blantyre on Saturday.

The committee’s member Andrew Mwadala said the committee hopes to raise the amount from several activities such as tickets and merchandise sales.

“We are a well-followed club and with the recent success, we hope that our mission will draw a lot of support. We know that some members have pledged to buy tickets at a relatively higher price. There are some corporate stakeholders that are also planning to contribute towards the event, so we are assured that things will work,” he said.

Mwadala also said that supporters will have to buy a ticket at K1,000 to vote for the player of their choice and enter into a raffle draw.

Wanderers intend to reward outstanding players after an impressive season when they won the Fisd Challenge Cup and Carlsberg Cup.

The Lali Lubani Road side also lifted the Luso TV Bus Ipite bonanza.

Mwadala said supporters wishing to grace the occasion will pay an entry fee.

“We need to remind supporters that once they buy a ticket, they immediately vote for their player of the season. At the same time, they qualify for a raffle draw where winners will receive various items, including bicycles and cement,” he said.

Meanwhile, the committee’s Chairperson, Robert Mbeza, said every player will be given a token of appreciation at the gala.

“One thing that comes out clear is that every player that was registered and was on a contract with Wanderers will be rewarded. Then we will have a section where players with numerous votes in different positions will also be recognised. In the meantime, we will not disclose the amount involved,” he said.

Golf Union of Malawi (GUoM) President, Frank Mvalo, retained his post unopposed during the body’s elective annual general assembly held at Blantyre Sports Club (BSC) on Friday.

Four executive members opted not to seek re-election which led to the election of new executive members, including High Court Judge, Justice Kenan Manda (Lilongwe Golf Club).

Manda was elected Honorary Secretary replacing Gladson Kuyeri (BSC).

Kuyeri served the union for over six years.

BSC Captain, Samson Mwale, replaced Sherriff Chisamya also from the same club.

Other newly-elected members are Justine Mkandawire (Lilongwe Golf Club) and Yotamu Saka who is Captain of Country Club Limbe (CCL).

The members who are out of the union are Welkam Phiri (from CCL), Kingsley Chimdima Mhango (from CCL) and Michael Khomani (from BSC).

The officials who maintained their positions are Hudson Kantwanje (BSC Vice- President), Edwin Chipala (BSC), Charles Merrick (BSC) and Dan Mvula (Kasasa Golf Club).

Samba Hockey Team’s first-ever trip to Zimbabwe has given the Blantyre team renewed vigour, despite losing four out of five matches.

Simba lost to University of Zimbabwe Ladies 8-0, Rising Stars 3-1 and Hippo Ladies 3-1 on January 28.

The following day, Simba drew 0-0 and lost 2-0 to opponents, whose names were not readily available as we went to press.

Nonetheless, Simba Captain, Trinity Chilembwe, described the trip as fruitful.

“Despite the losses, it was a good learning experience. It was interesting to see how other hockey teams play. We have definitely learnt from this tournament,” she said.

Chilembwe thanked Rising Star Media and friends for hosting the team in Harare.

“We are very appreciative of the hospitality they showed us. They went above our expectations,” she added.

“We are thankful to everyone who made our trip successful. We, especially, thank GPY who came through with a hefty donation at the last minute. We are truly grateful for their generosity.”

Malawi National Council of Sports will review the impact of Podium Performance Programme (PPP) following Team Malawi’s participation in Region Five Games held in Angola last December.

The scientific programme was aimed at improving Team Malawi’s medal tally at the games, but the side got nine legitimate medals.

Prior to the bi-annual developmental games, the Sports Council entered into a partnership with the College of Medicine Sports Complex to run the programme through its High Performance Centre.

Through the programme, Team Malawi’s athletes from sport codes such as athletics, boxing and judo underwent training for 18 months before the games.

Team Malawi won 16 medals, including seven given as a consolation.

It meant that Team Malawi got nine recognisable medals.

Sports Council’s Sports Development Officer, Ruth Mzengo, said they would evaluate the impact of the programme before deciding whether to continue with the project.

“Basically, I think the project is good and there is need for continuation. However, I would like to state that we did not get the results which we were hoping for. We had one of our best preparations but we got nine legitimate medals. We also had an additional seven medals that were more or less a consolation,” she said.

Mzengo said major stakeholders in the programme would meet before the end of the first quarter of the year.

Team Malawi’s best outing was in 2012 when they scooped 12 medals during similar games in Lusaka, Zambia.

Out-of-contract Malawi Netball National Team assistant Coach, Sam Kanyenda, has bemoaned the Queens’ idleness ahead of Africa Netball Championship set for Tanzania in June.

The Queens will be expected to reclaim the continental championship which they surrendered at home to South Africa in 2013.

South Africa are still the holders.

Kanyenda, who was Griffin Saenda’s deputy when the Queens finished third at Fast5 World Netball Series in Melbourne, Australia last November, said the team needs test matches regularly.

“I am speaking in my individual capacity because our contracts expired in December. It is unfortunate that we are idle at a time most of the top-10 teams are active. What is more frightening is that even those that are above us are also busy taking part in test matches,” he said.

Kanyenda said ahead of the games, Malawi needs replacements for their exports Mwawi Kumwenda and Joyce Mvula.

“Some years ago Malawi failed to use Mwawi Kumwenda because her club could not release her for the championship,” he said.

“As a country, we should start preparing for life without the two during the Africa Netball Championship. This is where we need test matches to identify replacements and build coordination.”

Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) General Secretary, Carol Bapu, promised to ensure that the team returns to action soon.

“We will soon outline the strategy which we have put in place so that Malawi Queens should not stay idle,” she said.

Last week, South Africa hosted a tournament involving top ranked teams including Australia, New Zealand and England. The tournament was dubbed Sanzea.

Australia emerged winners followed by New Zealand and England on second and third positions, respectively. The hosts, South Africa, finished on fourth place.

Despite a reported truce between Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board and Malawi Boxing Association’s (Maba) professional wings, the two bodies are still at loggerheads.

Maba’s professional committee’s Chairperson, Daudi Chikwanje, has accused MPBCB of trying to disrupt the body’s plans by planning to roll out Association for International Boxing Association (Aiba) recognised pro-boxing.

Chikwanje’s remarks follows accusations that Maba engaged an ageing Kenyan boxer Kaminja Ramadhan to fight against Malawian Musa Ajibu in Lilongwe on Sunday.

The bout marked Maba’s launch of a talent identification campaign for 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games.

Maba has also been taken to task for allegedly stating that Ramadhan, 40, was from Kenya when records indicate that he is from Tanzania.

The heavyweight boxer, Ajibu, who ditched MPBCB for Maba’s sanctioned professional fights, knocked out Ramadhan in 40 seconds of the first-round.

Irate fans bayed for Ramadhan’s blood and he had to be whisked away by the police.

Chikwanje claimed that MPBCB was blocking the committee from engaging reputable international boxers.

“Ajibu was expected to face Tinayi Marudzo from Zimbabwe but he pulled out after our counterparts connived with promoters from Zimbabwe,” he claimed.

“Now they are questioning the credentials of his replacements. We also have information that they are trying to block Wilson Masamba from facing a South African boxer.”

Commenting on whether Ramadhan was from Kenya, Chikwanje insisted that a boxer can reside in any country of their choice.

“We have Isaac Chilemba from Malawi and he fights from South Africa whereas Charles Manyuchi from Zimbabwe fights from Zambia. So that does not change their nationality,” he said.

Information for Chilemba and Manyuchi clearly shows their country of origin whereas Ramadhan is regarded as Tanzanian on boxrec.com and fightstart.com.

MPBCB spokesperson, Frank Chibisa, said they were not blocking Maba from engaging international opponents.

“Normally our foreign counterparts seek our consent on whether the boxer is from us or the other body. We simply respond professionally so that our counterparts can make informed decisions,” he said.

Chibisa also said they were not responsible for exposing Ramadhan’s country of origin.

“We are leaving in a global world where information is at the fingertip. People can search on Google.com records about boxers. In this case, it was people who reacted after they felt that the boxer gave them a raw deal,” he said.

Confusion and divisions have emerged among Nyasa Big Bullets’ Board of Trustees over issues surrounding the forthcoming elections for the People’s Team’s main Executive Committee.

The rift has emerged after most of the trustees distanced themselves from the remarks which the trustees’ Chairperson, James Busile, made during the annual general meeting (AGM) at Gymkhana Club in Zomba last Saturday.

Busile openly challenged the decision by fellow trustees and called for the elections. He opposed the proposal that hired administrators should be running the team.

Some trustees, including Secretary, Jim Kalua, have since threatened to boycott the electoral process.

The confusion comes hot on the heels of Bullets’ sponsor, Nyasa Manufacturing Company, calls to suspend the elections in preference of hired staff to run the team as a business entity.

Kalua said he would not take part in the electoral process because he was in the dark.

“I have no idea that Bullets will hold elections so the trustees’ chairperson [Busile] is better placed to comment on the matter,” he said.

When contacted, Busile could not state when the team will hold the elections. He referred Malawi News to Kalua.

“There is nothing like divisions. I have spoken to Kalua and he will be the one responsible for running the elections,” he said.

However, Kalua in another interview insisted that he was blank on the matter.

“The AGM was supposed to pass this resolution which I think did not happen. However, we will meet to map the way forward as we cannot be going back and forth. Since I represent the Board of Trustees, I cannot make an independent decision and will only come back once we meet as a board,” he said.

Kalua has been backed by fellow trustees such as Gregory Madeya, Malinda Chinyama and Ruth Chenda Mkandawire.

Mkandawire said it was agreed that only the Supporters’ Committee should hold the elections.

“Of course, I am not an official spokesperson for the trustees. I am speaking in my own capacity having attended a meeting where we agreed that there is no need to hold elections for the main executive. We don’t want elections because some people want to come and reap from the team,” she said.

Former Bullets’ chairperson, Chinyama, who is also a trustee and Head of Commercialisation in the team, said elections were not necessary.

“There will be duplication of roles because the team will hire qualified staff to do similar roles. I don’t think that any sane or sober minded person could have undermined the rest of trustees by calling for elections without the input of fellow trustees,” he said.

The trustees’ vice-General Secretary, Victor Msowoya, said it was agreed that a detailed plan should be developed to allow the team to attract investors including Nyasa.

“During the extra-ordinary general meeting, it was agreed that we should set up a task force to oversee constitutional amendments as well as developing the best methodology to commercialise the team instead of the elections,” he said.

Promising female boxer Ruth Chisale fears that lack of fights will affect her blossoming career.

Chisale last fought last year on November 18 when she knocked out Elizabeth Nota in the first-round.

The boxer, who is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound female pugilist in the country, said she was surprised that promoters were shunning her.

“I don’t want to blow my own trumpet but my record speaks for itself.

I did well in the amateur category and I have a perfect record in the professional ranks. With that in mind, I am surprised that I rarely get fights. Staying idle will surely affect my career,” she said.

The Lilongwe-based boxer has nine straight wins in the professional ranks.

Chisale believes that she has done enough to woo local and international promoters to arrange title and non-title fights.

Zama Boxing Promotions trainer, Olusegun Kapanga, said the stable was equally frustrated that local and international boxers were not forthcoming to challenge Chisale.

“It is our concern too because most opponents are dodging her. They know they cannot stand her. Sometimes we fail to organise fights for her because most international opponents demand exorbitant fees,” he said.

Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board spokesperson, Frank Chibisa, encouraged the boxer and her stable to be proactive.

“They need to interact and social network with several stakeholders to build relationships,” he said.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has ordered Luso Television to pay K1.2 million for the repair of a bus which Be Forward Wanderers won in the Bus Ipite Bonanza.

Fam met Luso TV management alongside Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets’ officials at Mpira Village in Chiwembe on Tuesday to review the bonanza.

The association’s Marketing and Commercial Director, Limbani Matola, described the meeting as fruitful.

“There was nothing like Luso TV officials refusing to repay the money. It was just a small mishap due to communication breakdown. Everything is now water under the bridge,” he said.

Matola said the bus would be handed over to Wanderers after registering it with the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services.

“We agreed that three parties that is Luso TV, Wanderers and Fam should work jointly to ensure that the process goes through smoothly.

Everyone is aware of how things work nowadays when you want to change ownership [of a motor vehicle],” he said.

Luso TV Station Manager, Dick Juma, yesterday confirmed that the bus would be handed over to Wanderers next week.

“We are not trying to prove the Doubting Thomases wrong but we are just trying to fulfill our obligation. We resolved the matter amicably,” Juma said.

The bus broke down on the way from Lilongwe to Blantyre.

Irked by the delays to have the cost of the bus repair settled, Wanderers threatened legal action.

Wanderers defeated Bullets 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in the first leg and 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in the reverse fixture to earn the bus prize.

The playing field for netball clubs in not level with the same giants dominating major competitions.

To help the up-and-coming teams catch up with the giants, Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) has come up with a plan.

SRNL plans to hold a bonanza involving developmental teams during the off-season break.

SRNL General Secretary, Annie Hanjahanja, said they had presented proposals to companies and individuals to consider bankrolling the bonanza.

“We feel that we need to give an opportunity to the developmental teams to hone their skills before the start of the Rainbow Paints Southern Region Netball League season,” she said.

However, Hanjahanja said depending on the response the bonanza might even involve top teams.

“Currently, we are looking for about K2 million to K4 million. If we get less or more, we will make a decision to include the giants.

Nevertheless, I should state that the priority is for developmental teams,” she said.

Chilomoni Sisters player, Linda Kaponda, welcomed the proposal, saying it would give a chance for budding teams to compete at the same level.

“We can easily gauge our strength and weakness during the bonanza. Such games can then prepare us for bigger challenges,” she said.

Kaponda urged the corporate world to support SRNL’s proposal.

“In most cases, the league is dominated by three or four teams. The coming in of a bonanza for developmental teams will inspire the rest of the teams that struggle in the league,” she said.

Some of the up-and-coming developmental teams are Young Professionals, Shizaella, Gerald Tasaukadala Sisters, Chitakale Sisters and Chilomoni Sisters.

Be Forward Wanderers have become the latest team to embark on a commercialisation drive following recommendations from their sponsor, Japanese car firm, Be Forward Limited.

Wanderers’ General Secretary, Mike Butao, disclosed that their sponsorship renewal has delayed because their sponsor wants to engage intermediaries to be involved in running the team.

“The sponsor has given us a good package and it is far much better than we pocketed last season. However, the sponsor is not pleased with our current set up because it seems we report to the supporters who elected us. The intermediary team will come in to help in operations of the team for us to go commercial,” he said.

Butao said the new package will cater for Wanderers Reserve and youth sides.

“We were using resources from elsewhere to run these two developmental teams. Our sponsor has now appreciated the role of these two sides and will allocate a percentage of sponsorship to these two sides,” he said.

Butao stressed that even with the intermediaries; there would still be Executive Committee elections at Wanderers.

The development comes at a time when Wanderers rivals, Nyasa Big Bullets, have been trying to commercialise following recommendations from their sponsor, Nyasa Manufacturing Company.

At Bullets, the commercialisation drive appears to face hitches as some quarters within the team want to continue with the use of elected officials instead of hired qualified staff.

Central Zone Basketball League side Bravehearts have become the first national ladies’ basketball champions.

Bravehearts defeated their Lilongwe city rivals Lady Dynamites 75-44 on Sunday to emerge champions during the national ladies’ basketball finals held at Domasi College in Zomba from Friday.

To reach the final, Bravehearts defeated Southern Zone Basketball League side Lady Bricks 65- 30 whereas Dynamites saw off Angels 53-51.

In a third-place play-off, Lady Bricks finished on third position following their 37-36 narrow win over Angels.

Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) President, Hamlet Kamtengeni, said the tournament, involving seven teams, lived up to its billing.

“The display of the teams was so encouraging. It appears that the ladies went out there to prove a point that we were sideling them,” he said about the competition which will be used to select a national team for participation in 2020 Olympic Games’ qualifiers.

The Mchinji First Grade Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Protazio Nkhoma to 42 months imprisonment with hard labour for defamation of character contrary to Section 201 of the Penal Code.

The court heard that, on February 10 2017, the convict posted an article that was defamatory in nature, and intended to injure the reputation of Lonzoe Defector Zimba.

Nkhoma posted on social media that Zimba had killed two Americans by shooting them in his house, thereby exposing the complainant to hatred on his Facebook page and society.

According to the ruling, Nkhoma pleaded not guilty to the charge.

But, passing his judgment, Magistrate Rodwell Mejja Phiri said defamation of character is an offence that negatively affects the reputation of others.

He further said the accused deserved stiff punishment to deter would-be offenders.

In mitigation, Nkhoma said he suffers from epilepsy, has a sick mother and his wife had just given birth.

Nkhoma, 23, is from Mzikawola Village, T/A Mlonyeni, in Mchinji.

Well-known boxers Wilson Masamba, Chimwemwe Chiotcha and Mussa Ajibu have dumped Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) and rejoined Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board.

The boxers’ u-turn follows international title bout offers which they have received but Maba is reportedly unable to clear them because such fights are not within the association’s sanctioning range.

Masamba said he rescinded his decision to save his career which was nose-diving.

“ I am returning to the board in the interest of my career. I have been idle for some months and I think Maba is not ready to help us take part in international fights. I am working with my manager Craig Rousseau to formalise my return. I have a good international title offer next month which I cannot resist,” he said.

Chiotcha said he was misled into switching to Maba’s professional boxing wing as the sanctioning authority.

“The offers are coming yet we are struggling to get clearances. We have families to feed so we cannot stay idle,” Chiotcha said.

Ajibu confirmed that he was also on the verge of returning to the board’s sanctioned bouts.

Maba’s professional wing Chairperson, Daudi Chikwanje, accused the board of blocking its boxers from taking part in international fights.

“There are several issues which the board is doing wrong. We will hit back. They have been going behind our back to frustrate our efforts to get those boxers back. So the nation will judge us. I cannot comment further on this issue as I don’t want to be dragged into mud with other people,” he said.

The board’s spokesperson, Frank Chibisa, said their door was open for the returning trio, adding that “they are still our children and we will help them realise their ambition.”

Chibisa denied accusations that the board was blocking the trio from taking part in international fights.

Nyasa Big Bullets Board of Trustees Chairperson, James Busile, has stepped down from his post, saying it was time for others to serve the People’s Team.

Some quarters in Bullets have linked Busile’s resignation to the cracks that have emerged among the trustees.

Busile has resigned two days after a meeting involving supporters and the trustees over the weekend in Lilongwe agreed to hold Executive Committee elections on March 18 and also scrap off Treasurer and General Secretary’s positions.

Before the meeting, other trustees were against the elections, saying it was better to hire permanent qualified staff to drive the team’s commercialisation drive and fulfill Club Licensing System requirement.

However, Busile said he made the decision to quit long time ago and it was the trustees General Secretary, Jim Kalua, who persuaded him to stay put.

“My decision has nothing to do with whatever was agreed. I failed to travel to Lilongwe due to a funeral otherwise they had my blessings. I have been in the board for many years. It is time for others to serve the team,” he said.

Kalua was not readily available for a comment yesterday. The board’s Vice-General Secretary, Victor Msowoya, said he was in the dark about Busile’s resignation.

Meanwhile, former Bullets Supporters Committee treasurer, Bruce Tambwali, has said fans were mobilising themselves to seek legal action aimed at stopping the elections.

It is not clear as in what capacity is Tambwali pursuing the matter.

“In my observations, the recent Lilongwe meeting between BB Trustees and Supporters Committee’s representatives alone did not have the powers to change anything from what we agreed at Nyasa Bullets FC AGM [Annual General Meeting) in Zomba on February 4 2017,” he said, adding that the commercialisation requires time before being implemented.

Former Bullets general secretary, Harold Fote, said they were mobilising themselves to stop Bullets from going into what he claimed were wrong hands.

Former Bullets chairperson, Kondie Msungama, who is also interested in challenging the incumbent Chairperson, Noel Lipipa, said the constitution has been raped

“If the playing field has not been levelled yet, then I am afraid I will not because standing in such circumstances it shall mean that I will just be a rubber stamp. I would like to serve Bullets with passion and freedom,” Msungama explained.

The current structure of local club is outdated and unprofessional. Elsewhere it is only shareholders who elect board members who in turn hire a team’s management staff. The management team then hires technicians such as coaches. Such clubs have clear legal ownership and run like companies.

Local pugilist Mussa Ajibu has vowed to leave for Ghana today ahead of his vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa cruiserweight title fight against Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on Friday.

The development comes after warring Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) and Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board’s (MPBCB) officials failed to meet on Saturday to sort out their wrangles over the bout.

Maba failed to report for the meeting whereas the board’s representatives, including President, Lonzoe Zimba, spokesperson Frank Chibisa and Marketing Director, Chiku Kalilombe, were in attendance.

Maba Pro-wing Chairperson, Daudi Chikwanje, said they were not happy with some conditions which their counterparts set for the meeting.

Chikwanje referred The Daily Times to Maba President, Justice Katika, and his deputy, Pyson Likagwa, for detailed information on why they snubbed the meeting.

The two officials were not available.

Chibisa said they were disappointed that their counterparts did not show up for the meeting.

He said the board was not blocking Ajibu from taking part in the bout but wanted to follow procedures.

“Anyone with a sober mind will google to check the roles and fights which we are mandated to organise through our affiliation to ABU [Africa Boxing Union] and WBC [World Boxing Council]. They will also check the status of Maba with their international

mother body, International Boxing Association (Aiba) amateur. Boxers affiliated to us are not allowed to fight under Aiba sanctioned fights. Similarly, rules state that Aiba boxers are not allowed to participate in any professional titles except Aiba professional fights and Olympics Games. So it is a matter of choice. If a boxer wants Olympic Games he better stay with Maba but if he wants the other bodies then they must stick with us,” Chibisa said.

Chibisa said even though the issue was of national interest there was need to avoid bending the rules.

Ajibu, 31, has 27 wins including 23 knockouts, seven defeats and five draws.

Durodola, 36 has 24 wins plus 22 KO’s three defeats including two knockouts and no draw.

New Dawn Boxing Promotions has vowed to help former local welterweight champion Kudakwache Banda bounce back from his recent back-to-back defeats.

Considered as one of the best things to have happened in domestic boxing recently, Kudakwache saw his perfect record dented by Limbani Masamba who is now the welterweight champion.

Before the loss, Kudakwache posted 12 consecutive wins on his way to the welterweight championship.

However, Kudakwache eventually suffered two successive technical knockout defeats to Masamba.

New Dawn Managing Director, Mike Chimaliza, said they had decided to help Kudakwache regain his form.

“It was a mistake to allow him to fight in a relatively lower category [welterweight] because, in most cases, he was being starved to make it into the welterweight category. This time, boxing experts have tipped us to let him fight in middleweight category so that his strength should be preserved,” he said.

Chimaliza said Kudakwache was expected to bounce into the ring next month against a yet-to-be named opponent.

“In principle, we have agreed with one of good boxers and he is expected to sign a contract on Friday [tomorrow]. Once we seal the deal, we will announce all details including the date and venue,” he said.

Kudakwache said he was grateful to New Dawn for helping him revive his career.

“Despite severing ties with Mr Chimaliza, he is still like a father to me. I will work hard to avoid frustrating his efforts. My performances in the last two fights were not satisfactory but I will bounce back,” he said.

South Africa based Malawian entrepreneur Tiwone Mdina has cleared the mist surrounding this year’s Mdina International Open Chess championship after maintaining his K1 million sponsorship.

Mdina has since released the money to Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam).

The sponsor said he was encouraged by the impact of the championship which he started sponsoring in 2009.

“If you recall, we started as a regional tournament before turning national. Last year, we reached another milestone when we turned international,” Mdina explained in a telephone interview from Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“Looking at the impact we have made, we are left with no option but continue sponsoring the competition.”

Mdina urged Chessam to continue running the championship professionally.

“Our sponsorship does not mean that we have a lot of money but it is our social obligation to help unearth and develop players who can compete on the international level,” he said.

Chessam Publicity Secretary, Makhosi Nyirenda, hailed Mdina for the support.

Last year, a record 10 Zambians took part in the championship and humiliated the locals.

Lusaka based player Godwin Phiri emerged champion for the men’s category at Simama Hotel in Lilongwe.

It was also the first time that foreign players took part in the event since world chess governing body, Fide, upgraded it in 2014.

Phiri scored eight points to beat compatriot Chitumbo Mwali who also posted similar points.

The pair was separated by a tie-breaker.

South Africa-based Malawian Joseph Mwale salvaged home pride by finishing on third position with 6.5 points.

The champion pocketed K360,000 with the runner-up receiving K215,000 and the third-placed got K75,000.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) is yet to secure a venue for the association’s Charity Shield scheduled for April 1.

The game involving TNM Super League champions, Kamuzu Barracks and Presidential Cup winners, Nyasa Big Bullets, was earmarked for Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.

The game is expected to mark the start of the 2017 season.

However, Fam Commercial and Marketing Director, Limbani Matola, said Civo Stadium might host the game.

“We prefer to stage the game at Civo because its management is ready to contribute towards the fundraising cause. We also notice that the requirements for BNS are restrictive and prohibitive,” he said.

“They [hosting the game there] accumulate high operational costs which defeat the essence of a Charity Shield. Suffice to say we have held several meetings with BNS management over the matter and we await their official feedback.”

Matola said in addition to 25 percent venue share from gate revenue, BNS management is also demanding K2 million upfront payment plus K300,000 for cleaning services.

Fam has also been asked to engage its own personnel to manage sanitary facilities at the venue.

He said Fam had partnered Capital City Lions Club to raise funds for the rehabilitation of Lions Eye Hospital at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

Some of the proceeds will also be channelled towards purchasing physiotherapy equipment for Kachere Rehabilitation Centre in Blantyre.

“The eye hospital is in a very bad shape and needs urgent attention. And at Kachere Rehabilitation Centre, there is a critical shortage of physiotherapy equipment. As a result, the care givers there are finding it hard to provide the necessarily quality levels of treatment to patients,” Matola added.

He said most stakeholders for the game are willing to contribute towards the charitable cause.

“We have up-scaled our efforts for total inclusion, transparency and accountability in this drive,” Matola added. “It is a strong demonstration that football has great potential to meaningfully transform our societies. So we would want to fully exploit this power and value in such a big way.”

Despite the hullabaloo that surrounded his clearance, Malawian boxer Mussa Ajbu is reportedly in fine spirits ahead of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa cruiserweight fight against Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola tonight.

The 12-round contest will take place at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.

Ajibu, who ditched Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board for Malawi Boxing Association, was at the centre of controversy amid claims that the board tried to block the fight.

The Malawian, 31, has 27 wins including 23 knockouts, seven defeats and five draws.

In his last six fights, Ajibu has won, drawn and lost twice each whereas Nigerian Olanrewaju, 36, has won 24 fights including 22 knockouts and lost thrice.

Olanrewaju has won five and lost once in his last six fights.

Ajibu’s Zimbabwean trainer, Clyde Musonda, of Delta Force Boxing Academy said he had counselled the boxer to concentrate on the fight.

“Yes, what I can say now is that we arrived well and the promoter is taking good care of us. We cannot complain. I have managed to cool down the boxer and also took away his [mobile] phone to enable him focus on the fight.”

“I also told him that he is representing Malawi and nobody is going to stop the fight as it is already approved and sanctioned by World Boxing Organisation,” Musonda said.

No Pain No Gain Boxing Promotions Managing Director, Craig Rousseau, who sacrificed his ticket to allow Musonda to be at Ajibu’s corner, advised the Malawian boxer to give out his best.

“My only advice is that he [Ajibu] should go really hard to take it because he is up against a strong and good boxer.”

“The Nigerian champion is based in the US so he [Ajibu] has to go with 100 percent confidence and go for the kill. He cannot go in with kid’s gloves. West African boxers are very strong. The Nigerian is definitely not coming to spar,” he said