Malawi has received nominations in five out of ten categories for this year’s African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), which will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 24 May 2025.
The announcement was made by AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer Stanley Mutoya during a press briefing in Gaborone, Botswana. In his remarks, Mutoya emphasised that AUSC Region 5 recognises the pivotal role incentives play in motivating athletes, coaches, and stakeholders to strive for excellence.
‘’Since its inception, RASA has evolved into a crucial platform that not only rewards excellence but also inspires innovation and a commitment to high performance. The selection process for RASA is thorough and inclusive, beginning at the national level, where each country hosts its own National Sports Awards. Winners from these national awards are automatically nominated for RASA, ensuring that the finest talent from across the region is duly considered,’’ explained Mutoya.
He added that once the national winners are confirmed, all Region 5 structures, including Technical Commissions and strategic bodies, cast votes to identify the top three finalists in each of the ten competitive categories. Following this, a panel of forty experienced sports journalists from all ten member countries votes for the overall winners. This robust process guarantees credibility, transparency, and regional representation.
Malawian athletes nominated for the awards include Moses Misoya, who is up for Sportsman of the Year with a disability. He will compete against Mpumelelo Mhlongo, a T44 Paralympic athlete from South Africa, and Chris Kinda, a T11 Paralympic athlete from Namibia. Taonere Banda has been nominated for Sportswoman of the Year with a disability, facing competition from Lahja Ishitile, a T11 Para-athlete from Namibia, and Simone Kruger, a discus F38 athlete from South Africa.
The Under-19 girls’ cricket national team has been nominated for Team of the Year, competing against Botswana’s 4 x 400 m men’s relay athletics team and Zambia’s 4 x 400 m men’s relay athletics team.
Malawi’s female football icon, Tabitha Chawinga, has received nominations for both Sportswoman of the Year and Sports Personality of the Year. In the Sportswoman of the Year category, she will compete against Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Botswana’s Oratile Nowa. For the Sports Personality of the Year category, she will go head-to-head with Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Tapiwanashe Makarawu from Zimbabwe.
Last year, Malawi received nominations in six categories at the regional awards.
The African Union Sports Council Region 5 introduced the Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) in 2016 to encourage, coordinate, and promote the development of all forms of sport in the region. The awards also serve as a platform to motivate member states, teams, and individuals by recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements in sport.
Below is the full list of the nominees
REGIONAL ANNUAL SPORTS AWARDS 2025 TOP 3 NOMINEES
Sportswoman of the year with a disability
Lahja Ishitile Athletics T11 Namibia
Taonele Banda Athletics T13 Malawi
Simone Kruger Discuss F38 South Africa
Coach of the year
Kebonyemodisa Dose Mosimanyane Athletics Botswana
Pieter Benade Rugby Namibia
Douglas Kalembo Athletics Zambia
Junior female sportsperson of the year
Kellis Ndlovu Cricket Zimbabwe
Natalie Katlo Banda Chess Botswana
Mercy Chipasula Football Zambia
Junior male Sportsperson of the year
Collen Busang Kebinatshipi Athletics Botswana
Luca Fraser Swimming Eswatini
Rafael Sharon Chess Zambia
Sports Journalist Award of the year
Cosmas Mulenga Zambia
Ellina Mhlanga Zimbabwe
Limba Mupetami Namibia
Sportsman of the year
Letsile Tebogo Athletics Botswana
Akani Simbine Athletics South Africa
Tapiwa Makarawu Athletics Zimbabwe
Sportsman of the year with a disability
Mpumelelo Mhlongo Athletics T44 South Africa
Chris Kinda Athletics T11 Namibia
Moses Misoya Athletics T13 Malawi
Sportsperson of the year
Letsile Tebogo Athletics Botswana
Tabitha Chawinga Football Malawi
Tapiwanashe Makarawu Athletics Zimbabwe
Sportswoman of the year
Tabitha Chawinga Football Malawi
Barbra Banda Football Zambia
Oratile Nowe Athletics Botswana
Team of the year
Botswana’s 4 x 400 Men’s Relay Team Athletics
Zambia’s 4×400 Men’s Relay Team Athletics
Malawi’s U19 Women’s Cricket National Team Cricket Malawi