Malawian speed eater Austin Awali better known as Spanner Mw has responded to criticism after publicly appealing for sponsorship to travel to Nigeria.
The backlash began on Tuesday when he requested funding for a Guinness World Record attempt. Critics argued that he should use his previous winnings to cover the costs of the trip.
The controversy follows his 20 million kwacha win in Nigeria last year , a journey that was also supported by public donations.
Many social media users have said he should not “normalize asking for help,” insisting that his recent successes, including winning over 2 million kwacha in South Africa earlier this year, indicate that he is financially stable.
In a TikTok Live video, Spanner addressed the backlash and downplayed the value of his earlier prize.
“20 million kwacha you are talking about sounds cool but it’s not a lot of money,” he said.
He also responded to questions about why he does not have a manager, explaining that he has only been in the sport for one year.
“I shouldn’t rush to have a manager while I don’t have a proper strategy,” he said.
Spanner is expected to travel to Nigeria later this week for the Guinness World Record event and is also set to feature in a movie.
He is seeking donations to support the trip, claiming that he has already secured a flight ticket.
However, some quarters feel that the Malawi government, through its Sports Ministry, should be more proactive in using Spanner’s achievements to promote Malawi internationally.
