Bravehearts holds gala night: Decorates outstanding basketball players, individuals
Lilongwe based Bravehearts Basketball Club on Sunday held an Award Gala Night at Bridgeview Hotel in the capital city, where the club’s owners G.Y Imports & Exports and Dr Print decorated outstanding players and individuals with trophies and certificates of recognition.
Before the Awards Night, players from both Bravehearts Men and Ladies cheered the sick at Kamuzu Central Hospital, where they presented assorted items.
Speaking during the Gala Night, Bravehearts Patron Griffin Kalua said they organised the event to celebrate the teams’ success during the year and recognise efforts made by players and individuals towards the success of the team and development of basketball.
“We hold this event every year but for the first time, we are also recognising players and individuals outside Bravehearts. Although we are celebrating our achievements, there are players from other clubs, who made the league more exciting. Equally, there are individuals, who have tremendously contributed to the development of the game. It’s good to honour people for their efforts while they are still alive,” said Kalua.
Commenting on the hospital visit, Kalua, who is also managing director for G.Y Imports & Exports and Dr Print said it was a policy of Bravehearts to channel 10 percent of any prize money towards charity.
“There is no sponsor for the Central Zone Basketball League (Cezobal) but as sponsors of Bravehearts, we decided to present cash prizes to our men and ladies’ teams for winning Cezobal League B and Women League undefeated,” said Kalua, whose companies presented K1.1 million cash to the teams.
During the Gala Night, Patrick Chirwa and Aisha Ali were named Most Valuable Players for Bravehearts men and ladies respectively. David Mkonkholo and Rose Mkanda were recognised as the Assist Leaders with Madalitso Montana Kadiwa and Joyce Mvula declared Best Defending Players.
The award for Most Disciplined Players went to Patrick Gondwe and Chilungamo Ngalande for the men side and Rachael Kumwenda for the ladies while Hydin Mafuta was named Rookie of the Year.
Felix and Lusungu Moyo were the Most Committed Players for the two sides whereas Mafuta and Esther Katungwe got awards for Most Inspirational Play during the teams’ recent Zimbabwe tour.
There was also an award for Off-the-Court Hussle, presented to players who have been of great service to the clubs off-the pitch that went to Dominic Munyenyembe and Madalitso Kaiche.
Outside Bravehearts, Takondwa ‘Bonzo’ Lwazi of Angels was named the Most Inspirational Player in Cezobal Women League with ABC Lions’ Todd Stiles and Lucky Makonokaya of Central Knights sharing the same accolade for the Cezobal League A. Central Knights and Lady Dynamites were named the Most Inspirational Teams in Cezobal.
To cap it all, Bravehearts honoured five basketball individuals with the Champions of the Game award for their noble contribution in the development of basketball in Malawi. The individuals were Magang’a coach player Hope Chisamanga, former Mimbulu star player and founding member Daud Suleman, Young Jere of the Northern Zone Basketbal League, ABC Director and former national basketball coach Paul Chinchen and Central Knights patron Barlet Mafuleka.
After receiving the awards, Bravehearts Ladies made a surprise gift presentation to Kalua and his wife Yowoyani for the great sacrifice the family has made towards the teams and basketball in general.
Cezobal general secretary Peter Gomani and his Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) counterpart Edgar Ng’ong’ola, who represented their respective bodies at the Awards Night hailed Bravehearts for extending the awards to members outside Bravehearts.
The two officials also saluted Bravehearts men and ladies for the strides made by the teams in the league and during national competitions, saying the coming of the teams has increased the level of competition.
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