Jnr Queens look beyond qualification
The Junior Malawi Queens have said they are looking beyond qualifying for the 2025 Gibraltar Netball World Youth Cup at the ongoing Africa qualifiers underway in Pretoria, South Africa.
The team’s assistant coach Cecilia Mtukule said in a post-match interview that their target is to win all their games at the continental event.
She said this after the Junior Queens swept aside Namibia 48- 23 in their opening match at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall on Sunday.
After resting yesterday, the Junior Queens return to the court today to face Tanzania at 10am before taking on Kenya from 4pm.
Said Mtukule: “We are happy that we have won our opening match impressively, but we are looking far beyond just qualification.
“We want to win this qualifying tournament. That is our ultimate goal.”
On the team’s performance, the assistant coach said after shaking off some early lethargy in the first quarter, the Junior Queens were in cruise control for the rest of the match.
Said Mtukule: “I think we struggled in the first quarter, but from then on, the girls played according to instructions and were dominant in all departments.
“The girls are determined and there is also good team spirit.”
In a match monitored on SuperSport Television, Malawi led 9-4 in the first quarter and engaged an extra gear in the second quarter in which they led 24-9.
In the third quarter, they were 35-14 up before wrapping it up with a 48-23 victory.
The Junior Queens goal shooter Stellah Matelezi was named player of the match.
The top four teams from the tournament will qualify for the world event
