FDH Premier Netball League organising committee is in a fix over this weekend’s fixtures following advice from Malawi Queens team doctors to allow national netball team players have more rest fafter their recent international engagements.
Four games are lined up for tomorrow at Blantyre Sports Arena and Civo Stadium Netball Court in Lilongwe to wrap up the elite league’s first round a week after the Queens’ return from the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.
In Blantyre, Tigresses take on Pacers at 10am and Giants Netball Club at 3pm while in Lilongwe, champions Blue Eagles are scheduled to host KIA Atlas at 1.30pm and Lioness entertain Mafco Soldiers at 3pm.
Premier Netball match|
Courtesy of FDH Premier Netball League
But the committee’s vice-general secretary Daniel Chigowo Nyirenda yesterday said they are in dilemma because postponing the games might create fixture congestion with the Nico Netball Cup coming soon.
He said at the same time, they need to heed the doctors’ advice to allow the players fully recover after almost two months of international matches at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the Africa Netball Cup in Kenya, where they played more than 10 matches.
“We will discuss with the authorities to map the way forward so that as we strive to ensure the good health of our players, the league fixtures should as well not stagnate,” said Chigowo Nyirenda. “We are hopeful that we will reach a consensus on this matter.”
In a telephone interview yesterday, Malawi Queens team doctor Sera Mutichiro asked for more time to respond as she was rushing to a meeting.
The league was paused on September 6 to allow the Queens compete at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, where they finished third and qualified for the 2027 World Netball Cup.
FDH Bank plc on June 28 hiked the national netball league’s sponsorship to K350 million from last season’s K250 million.
Currently, Blantyre heavyweights Kukoma Diamonds are at the summit of the 12-team log-table after completing first round of matches with 21 points.
Blue Eagles, who have a game in hand, are second on 18 points, the same as fellow Lilongwe-based outfit Vanessa Sisters, who completed first round fixtures.
