LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The COSAFA has today unveiled three names nominated for the inaugural 2023 most Promising player category nominees.
The category is for the players aged 20 or under in 2023 and covers their form for the club and country.
The three nominees are as follows; Leticia Chinyamula of Ascent Academy, the 17 year-old midfielder was a key player for Malawi as they claimed a maiden success as the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship when they defeated Zambia 2-1 in the final.
She scored in the epic 4-3 win over host South Africa and in a 3-1 success against Madagascar in the pool stages.
She started the final and put in an excellent display.
Another Malawian players is her Ascent Academy teammate Rose Kabzere- Was another who shone as Malawi won the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship, despite being only 17-years old,she got herself a goal in the 8-0 win over e-Swatini and was and was steady throughout the campaign, playing in every match,including starting the final.
She was previously leading scorer in the COSAFA under 17 Women’s Championship in 2022 and continued that development through the year.
The third player is Zambian, Esther Banda- Defender Banda had a breakthrough year in 2023,travelling to the Women’s World Cup, though she did not play; helping Zambia to the Silver medal at the COSAFA Women’s Championship and scoring her first international goals in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The 19-year old is certainly on an upward trajectory and also helped Green Buffaloes to the semifinals of the COSAFA Women’s Championship League competition.
The winner will be announced at a Gala Awards ceremony in Durban on April 19 2024 with a panel of judges from across the region having assessed their performances for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2023.
