Kukoma Diamonds retain Presidential netball crown
Kukoma Diamonds have reclaimed the Presidential Netball Trophy after beating Thunder Queens 47-41 at Kumudzi Centre in Lilongwe yesterday.
This means Diamonds have lived up to their promise of sweeping all major national netball trophies into their bag. Since Capital Oil Refining Industry (Cori) started sponsoring them last year they have won the Airtel Money National Championship and the GOtv Netball Champions League.
For their success, Diamonds received K4 million and a trophy while Thunder Queens got the K2 million second prize.
Yesterday, they led 14-12 in the first-quarter before increasing the tally to 26-22 and 38-32 in the subsequent segments.
“We are now vindicated that with sound sponsorship, no team in the country can beat us in the domestic netball arena,” said Diamonds coach Griffin ‘Zagalo’ Saenda.
On the other hand, Thunder Queens coach-cumgeneral secretary Christina Mkwanda-Nsinji described their narrow loss in the finals as a good sign of their renewed vigour in local competitions.
This was the first time Thunder Queens (previously known as MTL Queens) reached finals of any domestic competition since 2008.
To get to the finals, they beat Tigresses 48-43 in the semi-finals while Diamonds granted Blue Eagles Sisters a 47-44 defeat.
“Despite the loss in the final, we are happy with our improved form. I should thank my charges for putting up a spirited performance to reach this far. Let me take this opportunity to ask wellwishers to sponsor us. If we are able to finish as runners-up in the absence of sponsors, what more if we had them?” MkwandaNsinji said.
As for Tigresses, this year seems to be a bad one for them. They have finished fourth after losing their third-placed match 46-41 to Blue Eagles. Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda said the competition has been a success.
