PERSEVERANCE CEMENTS GOLD STATUS: UNIMA CHECKERS VT TOPS TESSAM TOURNEY

UNIMA Checkers VT gold medalists (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers)

The University of Malawi Checkers Volleyball Teams (UNIMA Checkers VT) have proven that success comes through persistence and resilience, as both the men’s and women’s teams claimed gold at the recent Tertiary Education Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) tournament held in Lilongwe on Saturday, 10^th May 2025.

The men’s team, who were knocked out in the previous tournament after earning bronze in the one before that, and the women’s team, who secured bronze in two consecutive competitions, finally broke through to the top. This year’s sweep cements UNIMA Volleyball as a rising powerhouse in TESSAM, marking a perfect finish in both categories.

UNIMA Checkers VT gold medalists 🥇 showing their medals (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers)

Speaking after the tournament, men’s captain Benjamin Chamgwera expressed his joy over the hard-earned victory especially that it came in his final year at the institution.

“This gold medal symbolises that hard work pays off. This victory will inspire many aspiring players, especially considering that volleyball is one of the least popular professional sports in the country. I urge the government, the university and other stakeholders to support us in competing in more tournaments, especially those that could earn the nation a continental and global recognition.

Our dominance in both male and female categories shows that we are committed to inclusive success,” said Chamgwera.

Top is Gold: Captain Benjamin Chamgwera🥇 (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers team)

Women’s team captain Jessie Kaunda also celebrated the win, saying she is happy with the triumph, and hopes volleyball gets the recognition and support it deserves for being one of the most successful sports at the university. She further highlighted the benefits of shared training sessions with the men’s team.

Smiles for the MileGold: Captain Jessie Kaunda🥇 (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers)

“This triumph is a result of strong teamwork across both teams since we often train together. Competing alongside the men helps us to grow as athletes, and it motivates them too when we outperform them. These gold medals are a collective achievement,” Kaunda noted.

Joel Bangs! UNIMA Checkers VT Men's eliminating LUANAR-Bunda Campus team (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers team)

UNIMA Checkers coach, Martin Ngalande, praised the players for their discipline and commitment by acknowledging the team's effort for turning the past losses into learning opportunities.

“This victory is a testimony that UNIMA is indeed the home of excellence. The players made sacrifices, trained consistently despite tight academic schedules, and showed a willingness to grow from past defeats. Some players even missed their final social weekend. This mentality and work ethic made the difference,” said Ngalande.

We learned from our Mistakes - Ngalande (Photo Credits:  Martin Ngalande Facebook)

UNIMA Student Sports Director Precious Bonzo praised the UNIMA Checkers’ efforts and called for greater institutional support.

Athletes need more support - Bonzo (Photo Credits: Chanco News Facebook)

“The university, and other stakeholders need to step in and support these athletes. Their performance shows that with more opportunities in domestic competitions, they can also help with the development of a strong national team,” said Bonzo.

Some UNIMA Checkers VT gold winning players before the games (Photo Credits: UNIMA Checkers)

UNIMA Checkers teams achieved gold after facing tough setbacks in recent tournaments. The men’s team bounced back from an early knockout in the last competition, following a bronze medal finish the year before. Meanwhile, the women’s team had consistently secured bronze in the two previous editions. This year, both teams reached new heights: the men’s team defeated Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) 25–13, 25–18, while the women’s team delivered a dominant 25–15, 25–15 victory in the final.

THE SURVIVOR WITH A MORTARBOARD: A MALAWIAN GRADUATE’S STORY

Who is a Malawian Public University graduate?

UNIMA graduation, April 2025 (Credits: UNIMA Facebook Page)

Have you ever walked in the corridors of the University of Malawi (UNIMA) or any other public university as a student?

As we walk the corridors of Malawi's public universities, we are reminded of the resilience and determination of students who strive for excellence despite numerous challenges. From limited resources to financial constraints, these students persevere to fulfil their dreams of a brighter future.

After successfully being enrolled in various public universities for undergraduate studies, either as generic or mature students, many face hardships. Once enrolled, it is common for people back home to heap praises and focus on the belief that the student will come back home with "the paper" in the later years. Unlike in religion where faith is supreme, university students need extra necessities to help them run their day-to-day activities. These necessities are not limited to cooking flour, rice, groceries, and money for lunch and supper, especially for those residing in the school’s hostels.

Many students struggle to make ends meet at these institutions due to financial limitations, and again, psychological constraints caused by academic pressure. Some students complain of being redirected to programs they never wished to study. Others lament about academicians who appear inconsiderate to their academic needs, but that is a story for another day. There have even been tragic trends where universities, particularly the University of Malawi, have lost aspiring graduates to suicide. Almost every academic year since 2022, students have forced themselves into the silent palace. It is the struggles they face at the institution that prompt them to seek an escape route from the difficulties.

The Malawi government tries to support generic students by subsidising education costs and providing loans. Despite this financial help, many generic students still struggle to access basic needs which prompt some to withdraw or seek public assistance through social media. Those who are bold enough open up, and help is given by friends and philanthropists. The problem arises when students fail to speak up about their struggles, whether financial or academic which lead to a silent suffering. The end result is often either suicide or reckless engagement in drugs and substances, especially marijuana and alcohol.

It even gets harder for those who enrolled as mature students; they are not given any financial support from the government—no loans and subsidies. Unless they are employed by institutions willing to sponsor their education, they must shoulder everything themselves. Mature students are expected to worry less, at least in the eyes of generic students who assume that their peers are financially sound due to their admission requirements: proof of work experience, financial statements, or sponsorship letters. Some generic students even ask for financial help from these mature students for luxuries, not knowing that even mature students are unsure of how they will source their own funds. The emotional burden placed on the experienced student, and the silent power that financial expectations hold over them, separates them from their younger counterparts. Some leave behind families that rely on them financially. When they compare their earnings to tuition fees and other necessities, it is a nightmare. Still, they soldier on, and face battles brought upon by academicians in their quest to be certified for the academic award.

Some UNIMA BACCS class of 2024 graduates (Credits: Dr. Chavinda)

To graduate from these institutions, resilience is essential, and most importantly God's grace for many. Despite atheism claims, many cry for help in the name of love. As one big family per UNIMA, arms are stretched to pull each other out of messes: financial, academic or psychological. A degree is a testimony that one attended university, but the real lessons gained from these institutions are not recorded on the transcripts. Those transcripts are strictly information of courses attended in a classroom or an academic required research. The most important lessons from university are stored in the graduate’s brain, the true centre of the degree.

Some argue that a degree is just a paper, but they never understand the struggles and efforts invested to earn it. The lessons learned are the reason people boast about having studied at a public university, not just for academic achievement but for the life lessons gained from interacting with people of different backgrounds in the country, and sometimes from across the globe. A degree is not just a paper, it is a testimony of resilience, hope and determination.

 A sigh of relief as student is ready to be conferred his Bachelors in 2025 (Credits: UNIMA Facebook page)

Behind every graduation photo is a story of survival. A story of skipped meals, silent cries, sleepless nights, postponed dreams and quiet courage. The mortarboard is not just worn on the head, it rests on the weight of everything a student had to endure to earn it.

Last Man standing (Credits: UNIMA Facebook page)

They are not just graduates. They are survivors, the last kind standing with a mortarboard.

A question for your mind, who is a graduate from a public university in Malawi?

Leave the comments below.

THE CONFIDENCE OF TAKING A STEP FURTHER.

When a child is learning to stand and walk, he does so with so much hesitation unless he's held on to something. Some even try to get down so they could crawl because standing up is a new challenge presented itself to them. By practicing to stand every day, they slowly start to walk without relying on support from other objects unless a health problem arise.

Aside from locomotion, the other sides of life also need courage,  hence 'Think twice' should not be used as a scapegoat to delay the next step. Think twice, and let yourself free to the next level since the analogy may literally mean an outcome of what an individual knows, and what they should expect from their next action. 

Hesitation can make us believe that we need to be calm for being stuck where we are to avoid betrayal and other problems. The step forward decides what we must achieve next, and that can either be positive or negative. Hesitation tries to pull us to a side that promises satisfaction, and in the end we do not make a progress in our life.

Reluctance block opportunities, and present situations should help one to take a step forward for future's sake. That is to say, what is done today is significant to the future.

The criminals in suits are good examples, they roam around in poor areas in search of poor people's participation in acts that will cement their position in their accepted crimes (politics). They take that step, humble themselves just to cheat the poor that they are one. Humbling themselves is a step towards victory to the criminals and co. hence the step they take is to fashion themselves as responsible leaders to be elected.

Even students take the courage to study hard for examinations. In doing so, they hope to improve their previous performances. In that way, students are taking another step to success in their studies. That is to say, students who do not study are bound to fail since they have second thoughts, and are hesitant to treat their class with seriousness.

 

There are countless examples, but it is very important to trust your instincts and move with time. Minimise hesitation unless you have something better lined up already. The fear of the next step imprison us from facing what is coming next.

What we lost should not stop us from getting something new. We might lose it in the sea or a war, and that does not mean we go back to where we were for the sake of that piece. It might be valuable, yes but that does not mean we cannot find something better.

Going back to the battlefield after surviving killer shots that were aimed at you sounds insane. You need to keep on Grooving (moving), because that next step will help you to get something even better. 

So what is pulling you back? A breakup? A loss? An elimination from a certain game? Examination Failure? 

Come on, pull yourself back up and take that much needed step. It will not be Today but surely it will change your life forever.

I understand you can not do it alone, so please find time to pray for God's guidance and intervention because prayer is powerful, and it will help you pass through it. 

Thanks for taking time to read. Please leave comments, and don't forget to share the linked with your friends. 

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“BE BRAVE AND FACE LIFE”- Charlie Chaplin (Depression & Life)

Hey there, wherever you are I hope you’ll read this and keep it in mind.

It’s now quite some time that some individuals out there are being too judgmental about people who commit suicide due to depression. Depression is not an easy thing as it may seem to be. People who have been there or studied much about it can agree with me.

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Depression possibly arise when people are stressed out due to different life circumstances or traumas. (E.g. relationship & family problems, death of a loved one, social isolation etc.)

When people are in this state it’s easy for them to get mad unreasonably, and behaviour change is inevitable. Depression makes people to lose hope in everything, and all they think of is committing suicide or stay away from family and friends. Depression aggressively kills the little love and peace which one has inside, and it’s not easy for them to do something developmental.

Depression is not easy to overcome like a mere stress but it can be dealt with just like any other problem.

Here are some helpful life saving tips I’ve tried to draft:

1. You need to stay away from life threatening circumstances, stop having so much trust and expectation. Accept that things happen differently than how we wanted them to be, and that’s life.

2. You should often associate with people who understand and accept who you are to avoid being let down and create more room for happiness & peace. This is anything which one can do socially as long as they get to bury your mental problems.

3. Stop having great desire for things you cannot have so soon cause your friends accessed them. Understand that you’ll have a chance to have them one day.

4. Meet a Therapist. Some problems can be solved by people who understand mental problems better thus those who can see through and help you to revive with guidance, and some other words of encouragement.

5. Believe in a purpose. Father of Logo therapy who also happened to be a Holocaust survivor in his ‘Man’s search for meaning’ said “An active life serves the purpose of giving man the opportunity to realize values in creative work, while a passive life of enjoyment affords him the opportunity to obtain fulfilment in experiencing beauty, art, or nature.” Face whatever is mentally affecting you now and believe you have a purpose to live for. Let life treat you the way it want. Never give up, be brave and face it.

Overall, you should love something which you can control, and that’s you. Being mad at the world won’t help you, it will only hurt you (On my Block #Netflix). Think of those who are fighting to live on a hospital bed, think of those friends and family you have.

The above tips might not work to others, and it’s not right to call names or insult souls of those who have committed suicide. Remember we all and will die differently. You don’t know exactly what they faced inside.

Let’s support those in need and be there for them when they lose hope of living.

(Written in 2019)

Dalitso Robin Chaona

Face of Malawi 

Bcube RJ 

FOLLOWING TOP TEAMS’ PHILOSOPHY CAN BE IDEAL FOR FLAMES

A win for Malawi the Flames against Algeria at African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2010 which was held in Angola made the flames to get carried away since it followed up with two consecutive defeats to the host nation and Mali which marked the end of the road to the final. 

Flames celebrating a goal against Algeria (credits BBC)

Flames lacked good philosophy, concentration and fighting spirit like their neighbours Zambia who went on to claim their first ever trophy by beating the then favourites Ivory Coast (8-7 on penalties). Zambia’s road to AFCON glory was based on the youth and employment of Herve Renard, a European coach with both European and African experience after being in Le Roy’s Ghana coaching panel 2008 at AFCON.

Lack of football academies have contributed to poor performances of the team as observed by Stephen Constantine, a former flames coach who began building the national team that went on to qualify for the AFCON under Kinnah Phiri. Constantine claimed that lack of grass-root soccer contributes to failure of African teams when they are competing at the top level.

“Players in Africa, don’t really get coached properly, most of them unless they go to the national team. If the national team has a foreign coach, that’s great but if they don’t, there’s not a great deal of coaching going on,” Constantine said as quoted by Goal.com in 2012 when he was managing Sudan.

Constantine was later replaced by Kinnah after failing to impress in the latter stages by not qualifying to either AFCON or FIFA World Cup although some people claimed that he was not given enough time to build the team.

People lacked patience with Kinnah as people of Zambia did with Herve Renard who guided them to their first and historical triumph in South Africa 2012. Herve came in after being in the coaching panel of Ghana national team of 2008. With African experience and European experience, Herve laid his foundations on the youth and professionals who showed hunger to play for the team.

Renard claimed that he models himself to Jose Mourinho because of his style of play which demands more from his players.

Zambia AFCON winning team (Credits BBC)

“I admire his blend of intelligence and strength, and I also admire Barcelona’s philosophy which helped me a lot in my time in Zambia,” said Renard in an interview with Goal.com

Renard’s admiration was shown when he recruited the youth to his Zambia national side and also playing a fast passing game (possession football) with Ivory Coast side which the Flames side lack although they admire to play the brand of football which is displayed by FC Barcelona.

Renard Herve being carried after Winning the final in 2010(Credits BBC)

Although Renard claimed to be a big fan of FC Barcelona, he never followed the Catalan’s culture of playing ultra-attacking football which involved high pressing (winning the ball back as soon as possible from the opponents) and fast passing game in his Zambia managerial days to win the country’s first AFCON cup. 

Life after AFCON exit in 2010 and Kinnah has been turf for the flames as they failed to qualify for a major tournament and they being knocked out at Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) in the hands of Zimbabwe on penalties when Tom Saintfiet was employed as a caretaker coach. On the other hand Zambia’s form has dropped since Renard’s departure who won Ivory Coast AFCON cup after many unsuccessful attempts with one of the best squad in Africa’s football history.

Some part of Barcelona’s philosophy which can be adopted in Malawi is the recruitment of the youth and building a team on a promising player who can carry the team on his shoulders with the help of aggressive midfielders who can have the desire to win and press in the opposition half to give the forwards freedom to run and score in the opposition’s box through fast movement (passing) of the ball by the midfielders.

Former FC Barcelona head coach and player, Late. Johan Cryuff from Netherlands always used to say that keeping the ball (dominating possession), move it well than the opposition is what makes a you (team) dangerous because you have what they don’t have which can avoid them to score.

“The person that moves decides where the ball goes, and if you move well, you can change opponents pressure’ into your advantage. The ball goes where you want it,” said former FC Barcelona coach Johan Cryuff to Spanish newspaper ‘Deportivo Mundo’.

Johan Cryuff (Credits wikimedia.org)

“I was criticized for playing three at the back but that’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. What we needed was to fill the middle of the pitch with players where we needed it most. I much prefer to win 5-4 than 1-0,” continued Cryuff.

Indeed defensive thinking did not enter Cryuff’s mind but now days, teams have adopted the system of playing three at the back although they’ve come up with a different approach of using wing defenders to overlap in order to create chances and track back to defend deep against the opponents by shifting into a five men back line.

Six time English League champions, Chelsea have adopted a 3-4-3 system under new manager Antonio Conte which helped them to win their sixth title by staying on top of the English Premier League (EPL) table since last year.

“I think this is the right way for the players, it is good for the team and we have found a good balance,” said Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, last year after a win against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Malawi should at least try to adopt the philosophy of Renard’s Zambia and Cryuff’s Barcelona of using the youth and playing a more attacking football in order to succeed since the ageing players can’t survive alone in tournaments and qualifying matches due to fatigue while the young guys can help to emulate them when needed just like what Barcelona did by offloading Ronaldinho, Deco and Rafael Marquez when Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola came in as a coach replacing Frank Rijkaard. Guardiola then built the team around Lionel Messi which claimed a sextuple in 2009 consisting of La Liga (Spanish premier league), Copa Del Rey (Kings Cup), UEFA champions League, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.

Sources:

Daily Mail

Four Four Two

Goal

Goal

Independent

Business Ghana

Guardian

BBC
BBC Blogs