Eagles, UK club yet to agree Mvula’s transfer fee
Blue Eagles Sisters netball team and top United Kingdom side Manchester Thunder are yet to agree on the transfer terms for goal shooter (GS) Joyce Mvula who left the country yesterday to start a new lease of life in England.
The gangly Malawi Queens shooter signed a seven-month deal with the English Vitality Super League side.
Eagles Sisters chairperson Tedius Samveka yesterday said Thunder argue that they cannot pay an outright transfer fee because she will be on assessment during her seven-month stint.
Takondwa Lwazi (C) and Mary Waya
“Of course for the good of the player and the nation, we had to release her, but we are yet to agree on the terms.
“Their argument is that they cannot make an offer because to them she will be under assessment and thereafter, a determination will be made on whether to sign her outright,” he said.
However, Samveka said they are still hoping to get some compensation from the Manchester-based club.
“Our argument is that we will be deprived of her [Mvula] services during the period that she will be away and we need to find a suitable replacement.
“They understood our explanation and they have been very cooperative and we are hoping to get some sort of compensation in the end.
“We have now left the matter in the hands of the Netball Association of Malawi [NAM], but having said that, we wish her all the best.”
However, NAM general secretary Carol Bapu yesterday said she could not comment on the issue at this stage.
The 22-year-old netballer, said she is excited at the prospect of playing professional netball and becoming only the second import after Mwawi Kumwenda, who has now signed for Melbourne Vixens in Australia.
Thunder’s coach Karen Greig was recently quoted by the club’s website as saying: “I am excited to have Joyce on board, having observed her during the Netball World Cup [in 2015], she has proved that she is an exciting shooter who has great physical capabilities and ability to play both GS and GA [goal attacker] and will pose great threat to any defence she faces.
“I am really looking forward to welcoming her into the Thunder family.” n
