Hearty welcome awaits Queens
The Malawi Queens arrive today (Thursday) through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) from New Zealand where they took part in the Fast5 World Netball Series.
The Queens left Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday aboard a South African Airways flight. They were in Hong Kong on Wednesday and are is expected to land at KIA at exactly 1.30pm Thursday..
Malawi government has planned an elaborate ceremony for the Queens for putting Malawi on the world map.
Director in the Ministry of Sports James Ndalama confirmed that there will be a high powered government presence at the airport to welcome the team.
“We plan to honour them in a special way for the pride they have done to the country,†said Ndalama.
He said Government will host the Queens to a dinner at Sunbird Capital where Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana will be the guest of honour.
“I would have loved to welcome them at the airport myself, but I am tied up with Parliament. The girls continue to do well each and every year. We want to hear from them and their plans and where we can help,†said Chihana.
During the dinner, MultiChoice Malawi will beam the highlights of the games in which the Queens were successful.
“We have also organised some DVDs of the games in New Zealand for the players and the officials so that they can watch at home and savour the experience,†said Chimwemwe Nyirenda of MultiChoice Malawi.
Despite remaining stuck on fifth position on the global netball rankings, the Malawi team made new grounds by beating England and Australia.
“It just shows that with good preparations the girls can make it into the top three or even be world number one. They have demonstrated great netballing skills,†said Chihana.
In a related development, the Queens will on Saturday dine with the public and corporate executives at Steers Gardens in Blantyre.
The event, which aims at raising funds for the team, is one of the activities lined up to congratulate the Queens for their gallant fight at the Fast5 World Netball Series in New Zealand, where for the first time they beat Australia (twice) and England.
According to Mpinganjira, on Saturday, to be part of the fun people will have to pay K4 000 (about $1.33).
“People will have a chance to take photographs as well as have autographs from our heroes. Companies can also buy tables at a reasonable fee. Tickets are currently selling at Steers in Blantyre,†she said.
Mpinganjira said a number of companies have pledged to give the team gifts at the event, but she could not disclose their identity saying it is ‘supposed to be a surprise’.
The Queens finished fifth at the six-team event. They won three games and lost to Jamaica, South Africa and New Zealand.
