Govt dares Queens to win Netball World Cup
Government has dared the Malawi Queens to punch above their weight and win the 2023 Netball World Cup scheduled for Cape Town in South Africa from July 28 to August 6.
Ministry of Youth and Sports principal secretary Isaac Katopola sounded the challenge during a send-off dinner the ministry and Malawi National Council of Sports jointly organised at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Thursday evening ahead of their departure yesterday.
He said: “It is our expectation that they will win the World Cup. If they cannot win, then at least, they should finish in the top five.
“The general public and. of course, government have high hopes in the Queens.
“Looking at their performance in the past, they have done well. Of course, they have had some setbacks. They used to be in the top five in the world, [but ] they are now number six.
“We have been working with various stakeholders to improve their performance.”
He said the event was about encouraging the team to have confidence and give out something extra and break boundaries so that they can win.
On his part, Sports Council board vice-chairperson Charles Ulaya Banda also said they have high expectations from the Malawi National Netball Team.
“We expect them to excel and not underestimate themselves. They have been doing it and this time we expect that they will do it again.
“If they cannot bring the tropthy, then at least a top five finish would be good. We hope they will make us proud and not embarrass the nation.”
Queens captain Jane Chimaliro said they will do well.
She said: “Considering the preparations we have had, we are geared for the battle.
“Malawians should expect good results, we are going to do well.”
Chimaliro also thanked government for the hearty-send off, saying it was a timely a morale booster.
“It was a great honour for government to give us such a treat, it is a big motivation,” she said.
Queens’ sponsors FDH Bank plc’s managing director Noel Mkulichi said they have no doubt that the team will do well.
He said: “We wish the Queens all the best, mindful of where they are coming from and mindful that there was a time that they had financial problems and we had to come in.
“We believe that they have all the energy to do well.”
He said some of the bank’s managers will travel to Cape Town to support the team.
Malawi are in Group B alongside third-placed England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th-ranked Barbados.
Their first match will be against Scotland this coming Friday before facing England the following day. Their last group match will be against Barbados on July 30.
The Queens have played in six Netball World Cups and their highest finish was fifth in 2007. During the last edition in 2019, which took place in Liverpool, England, Malawi finished sixth.
