In a new twist, celebrated Malawi Queens shooter Joyce Mvula-Chimwenje says she has retired from playing netball.
Her announcement comes barely a day after the 31-year-old announced that she would be taking a break from the sport this year to focus on her pregnancy and family matters.
Mvula, who played for United Kingdom (UK) top league club NIC Leeds Rhinos for the past two seasons, said in an interview with Wa Ganyu inline publication that she is done with playing netball.
Said Mvula-Chimwenje: “If I ever return to netball, then it will be coaching because I have a Level Two Coaching Certificate obtained from England.
“However, that will probably be after two years. Otherwise, I just want to have a break. I just want to switch off my mind so that when I come back to netball [as a coach], I will be ready for that.”
She said for now her focus is on her family.
“But if I find time, there are so many things to do in Malawi. I am a police officer and I have a business.”
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Yamikani Kauma yesterday described the new twist to Mvula-Chimwenje’s career as “very worrisome”.
“It is sad that she has quit at a time up-and-coming players were looking up to her for inspiration and learning from her as a professional player. All the same, we wish her all the best in her furure endeavors,” she said.
Mvula-Chimwenje’s retirement comes ahead of Malawi National Netball Team’s crucial tournaments this year, including the Commonwealth Games and Africa qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup.
She started playing netball at the age of age 13 and starred for Lilongwe-based Malawi Police Service outfit Blue Eagles Sisters before joining UK top league side Manchester Thunder for six seasons following her stellar performance at the 2015 Netball World Cup.
With Thunder, she won two UK league titles in 2019 and 2022 and was named Sky Sports Fan’s Favourite Player of the Season in 2019.
In the 2023, Mvula signed for New Zealand side Central Pulse before returning to the UK in 2024 where she joined Rhinos.
