Open up swimming to all -- Council Chief Executive Officer

Source: The Times Group Malawi
Author: Mphatso Malidadi

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) Chief Executive Officer Henry Kamata has called on stakeholders to open up the swimming sport code to every Malawian as, currently, it is only the elite that access it.

Kamata made the remarks at the end of the inaugural Open Water Malawi Schools Swimming Championship finals at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Saturday.

In addition, Kamata said Malawians have been failing to utilise the lakeshore area when it comes to swimming events.

"We have a big lake that covers the length of our country but we underutilise it when it comes to making swimming a competitive sport among the locals. Lake Malawi is a gift that we need to fully utilise through swimming and tourism," Kamata said.

The competition's organiser, Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) President Blackson Malamula, said, through the championship, more swimmers will emerge.

"This is the way to go if we need to change the norm. Nevertheless, we are delighted to have produced the first open water swimming national champions, who might carry Malawi's flag at international events," Malamula said.

Malawi Aquatic Union General Secretary Beatrice Makwenda was excited with the championship.

Meanwhile, the first ever finals of Open Water Malawi Schools Swimming championship left an indelible mark after unearthing talent.

The competition attracted top five swimmers from various schools across the country's lakeshore districts of Karonga, Rumphi, Nkhata Bay, Likoma, Nkhotakota, Salima and Mangochi.

During the national finals, 17-year-old Patson Chirwa from Nkhata Bay emerged champion in 1000m boys category.

He was followed by 19-year-old David Khonda from Karonga on second and Blessings Makwinja from Mangochi on third.

In the girls' 1000m race, 16-year-old Bertha Muyeya from Nkhotakota won the title after posting 15:33 while her age-mate Febby Mkabula from Likoma was second in 15:45.

Another 16-year-old Mercy Mwalika from Nkhotakota ended third in 17:17.

In the under-14 boy's category, 14-year-old Ephraim Themba from Likoma finished first in the 500m race with a time of 8:57 whereas 11-year-old Charity Bizeki emerged girls' category winner in 11:48.

World Aquatic expert Cedric Finch, from Aquatic Federation, supervised the competition.

The competition, which focuses on under-15 learners, is part of the Malawi Youth Games which are under the Sports Council.