Diamonds, MTL Queens begin OG Issa elimination battles

Diamonds and MTL Queens face off at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) this Sunday in an OG Issa Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) encounter that will signal the beginning of elimination battles for title-chase, among the league’s giants.

Currently, defending champions Complex Tigresses are on top of the 12-team table with 12-points from four straight wins. Diamonds and MTL Queens are second and third on the ladder respectively, with the same points and number of games. Only the basket difference separates them.

History has shown that an outfit that loses a single match among the three netball heavyweights hardly gets a chance of turning the tables and they eventually miss the jackpot at the end of the season.

Last season, a single loss to Tigresses in the first round cost Diamonds the league title, which they had been keeping since 2009.

Diamonds assistant coach Noel Mussa and MTL Queens team manager Christina Mkwanda agreed that this weekend’s encounter is vital to their hunt for the crown this season.

“This match will indeed be crucial in our campaign this season. We are training hard to ensure that we walk free on Sunday,” said Mussa.

He, however, said they will be very cautious on whether to feature all their five new players, including Rebecca German and Linda Mvula from Gerald Tasaukadala Sisters, because experience will matter most in this particular match.

On the other hand, Mkwanda said MTL Queens players are now mature and skilful enough to outclass a big team like Diamonds.

In other fixtures on Sunday, Airwing Sisters will take on Polytechnic while Alliance Capital Stars will face Gold Stars. On Saturday, the biggest match will involve Tigresses and Alliance Capital. This will happen after Tigresses, Gold Sisters and Chilomoni Sisters battle against Polytechnic, Shizaella Sisters and Prison Sisters, respectively.