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Munyaradzi Munzabwa, Sports Correspondent
ZIMBABWE-born volleyball coach, Thulani Maphosa has been nominated for one of the Malawi National Council of Sports-run 2022 Malawi Sports Awards set for Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe tonight.

In what could be another feather in his cap, the much travelled former Highlanders and University of Zimbabwe volleyball player and coach who spent almost 15 years in Eswatini before moving to Malawi is odds-on favourite to bag non-citizen award.

Thulani Maphosa

An invitation sent to him read: “You have been shortlisted for the Sports Awards that are taking place on Friday evening under the Non-Citizen category. It is going to be a black tie event. And if you are not dressed properly, you will not be allowed to enter.”

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) disclosed that this year’s Malawi Sport Awards would take into consideration exploits of athletes, teams and officials attained in the last two-and-a-half years to make up for the Covid-19 imposed hiatus.

It was during the period under review that Maphosa, apart from being appointed as the head coach of the Malawi volleyball national team, added to the numerous feathers to his cap with attaining Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) coaches’ trainer two years ago.

In the same era, the Bulawayo-born volleyball prodigy and icon became a serving member of the Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) Coaches Commission — the first-ever official from the Southern Africa (Zone VI) region.

Contacted for comment yesterday, an elated Maphosa felt honoured.

“It is always an honour to be recognised for whatever you do moreso when volleyball is my passion. Just the nomination itself means a lot to me. Volleyball has been part of my life for almost 30 years now and I don’t see that passion dying anytime,” said Maphosa.

The Malawi Sports Council has jointly organised the awards with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.