Airwing Sisters soar in Rainbow netball

Airwing Sisters came from behind to beat rookies Gerald Tasaukadala 54-43 at the Blantyre Youth Centre on an eventful Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Airwing emerged champions for the 2013 Rainbow Paints Top VI Netball Series’ 10-member qualifying stage.

For their feat, Airwing received K60 000 (about $150) and a miniature trophy from sponsors Rainbow Paints marketing manager Bruno Silas and Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) chairperson Khungikire Matiya.

Despite the loss, Tasaukadala won the hearts of spectators when they started the qualifying stage final on a bright note by leading 26-24 at half time.

Until that time, the rookies’ shooter Linda Mvula was winning aerial combats and scoring. But in the third quarter, fortunes changed with shooter Hendri Longwe leading Airwing resurgence.

By the third and last stage, not only were Tasaukadala slow on the ball and inaccurate when shooting, but they looked visibly exhausted.

Airwing join seeded defending champions Diamonds Sisters, MTL Queens, Woget Stars, Tigresses and Glass Bank in the final stage.

Rainbow Paints netball ambassador Jessie Mazengera hailed the paint manufacturers for giving her the platform to play for the Malawi Queens. Mazengera plays for Diamonds.

Taking their turns, Matiya and Silas said they were happy that the competition had already exposed exciting teams such as Gerald Tasaukadala and players such as Mvula who has since been drafted into the Queens squad.