Joy for Joyce Mvula
England-based Malawian netball star Joyce Mvula has capped an impressive debut season with United Kingdom top-flight league side Leeds Rhinos by bagging two awards.
The lanky shooter was voted Rhinos’ Coaches’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year after shining brightly for the club.
The Malawi Queens shooter has described her feat as a big motivation on return to England after a stint with New Zealand top league side Central Purse.
The 30-year-old is currently the UK Vitality Netball Super League’s third leading scorer with 633 goals at an average of 94 percent accuracy. Loughborough Lightining’s Mary Cholhok leads the scorers chart with 774 followed by Severn Stars’ Sigrid Burger with 643.
“I feel greatly honoured and highly motivated that my coaches and teammates have awarded me two accolades that will inspire me to improve on my performance even further. I should also point out that without their support, I could not have achieved this,” said Mvula.
However, her individual brilliance has not helped Rhinos qualify for the league’s semi-final play-offs as they will not break into the top-four even if they win their remaining two games in the regular season.
On Saturday, the former Manchester Thunder star scored 40 baskets, but Rhinos still lost 61-56 at home to Severn Stars to remain fifth on the 10-team log-table with 21 points from 16 games.
Her former team, Thunder, leads the pack with 45 points followed by Lightning with 42 points.
Mvula’s compatriot goalkeeper Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda’s Strathclyde Sirens is a step from the bottom with four points, a point ahead of table anchors Team Bath. She was sidelined for some time due to an injury.
Another professional netball star Mwawi Kumwenda-Mbwana, who plays for Australian giants Melbourne Vixens, has also not been active this season as she is on maternity leave.
Mvula played a pivotal role in Malawi Queens’ Netball World Cup qualification in South Africa a few months ago. She also scored the most baskets for the national team at the actual tournament in South Africa last year.
Malawi National Netball Team coach Joanna Kachilika said it is inspiring to see Mvula winning various awards each season at almost every club she plays for.
Mvula is among the four players and officials that won the six available awards at the Rhinos’ gala. Wing defender Cassey Howard was the other player who bagged two awards, including Fans’ Player of the Year.
