Sulom plans to set up “special committee” for Man-of-the-Match selection

The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has announced plans to establish a special committee tasked with overseeing the selection of Man-of-the-Match award winners, following growing concerns over flaws in the current system, according to Nation Sport.

Sulom vice-president Ronald Chiwaula confirmed the move during an interview yesterday, stating that the decision was prompted by a series of complaints from stakeholders—including clubs, fans, and football analysts—about the transparency and consistency of the award process.

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At the start of the 2025 season, league sponsors TNM plc introduced a K100,000 prize for each match’s top performer, adding K24 million to their overall sponsorship package to cover all 240 matches of the season. However, the credibility of the selection process quickly came under scrutiny.

“We have taken note of the concerns, and we agree that there have been flaws in how winners are selected,” said Chiwaula. “To address this, we will be setting up a special committee with clear terms of reference to ensure fairness, objectivity, and integrity in the process.”

According to the selection guidelines, panellists are expected to assess players based on a set of performance indicators, including: Impact on the game (goals, assists, key saves, or defensive interventions), Work rate and consistency, Leadership and sportsmanship and Adherence to the rules of the game (players receiving red cards are automatically disqualified)

The guidelines also stress the importance of impartiality, requiring panellists to declare any potential conflict of interest before participating in the selection process.

Football fans have welcomed Sulom’s decision, with many hoping that the new committee will bring credibility and professionalism to the individual awards, which have often sparked debate on social media and in the football community.

The committee is expected to include representatives from Sulom, TNM, former players, referees, and members of the media. Its formation is slated to begin in the coming weeks.