Draw wakes up queens
The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games draw has awoken Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) from their slumber to start preparations for the Queens.
In the draw conducted on Tuesday, the Queens have been drawn alongside second-highest ranked team New Zealand, third-placed England, 10th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago, 11th-positioned Northern Ireland and emerging African continental rivals, Uganda.
Preparations for such a big competition have not gone to plan, but Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa, who is also former national netball team legendary player, said they could cause an upset.
She said: “All the teams to participate in the Commonwealth Games are the world’s top 12. So, there is no easy team. We just need to prepare well and hope for the best. Success in any competition boils down to good preparations.”
Chawinga-Kaluwa said she submitted a proposal to have friendly games in preparation for the tournament.
She said: “We have requested Netball Association of Malawi [NAM] to play friendly games because it will help us to try new combinations. As of now, we have not yet formed a complete squad.
“Currently, we are doing individual training sessions everyday and we are monitoring each player to ensure they are meeting the schedule.”
On his part, NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala said they have secured friendly matches against Namibia, ranked 22nd in the world.
“Namibia have agreed to play two matches with us. They are comfortable either home or away. But we have to work on logistical arrangements with Sports Council. It is important to have proper preparations. We know how other nations are preparing,” he said.
However, the team will have a daunting task to reclaim their glory.
Although Malawi beat world champions New Zealand 57-53 at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, they lost their sixth position in the world and second in Africa to Uganda in the latest world rankings released this month.
Once ranked fifth in the world and first in Africa, Malawi will also have to deal with a third-ranked England.
Uganda beat the Queens 60-52 at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Last November, they also beat Malawi 59-43 in the Pent Series and settled for a 44-44 draw in the Africa Netball Cup
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland have lined up international game next month.
They will play Australia (April 5), South Africa (April 7), Jamaica (April 8), Barbados (April 11).
New Zealand will also play England, Jamaica, Australia and South Africa in the same month, but Malawi’s friendly against Namibia is yet to be confirmed.
The Queens were in camp for three weeks in January and are expected to regroup next month.
The Queens will start the Commonwealth Games with England on July 30 then face Northern Ireland on July 31, New Zealand on August 1, Trinidad and Tobago on August 3 and wrap up the campaign with rivals Uganda on August 4.
Group A comprises Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Scotland, Wales and Barbados.
