Malawi Queens in tricky c’wealth group
Malawi national netball team has been drawn in a tough Group B of the 2018 Commonwealth Games that also has International Netball Federation (INF) top three ranked sides New Zealand and England.
The other Queens’ group teams, according to the draw held on Wednesday, are Wales, Scotland and Africa Netball Championship holders Uganda, who defeated the Queens in Kampala, Uganda.
A statement issued by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) after the draw says the Group A has Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Barbados, Fiji and Northern Ireland.
Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) is struggling to run Premier and First Division leagues as sponsors Masters Security Company are yet to provide them with funding two months after the competitions kicked off.
The security company was supposed to provide SRFA with the first chunk of the K10.5 million financial backing at the start of the season for the league’s operations before coming up with a second amount at the end of the first round and the final sum at the end of the season.
The firm’s failure to meet its sponsorship obligations has forced SRFA to operate through registration fees from clubs and revenue from hiring the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS)-owned BAT Ground to social football clubs and other social events.
The development has also put the regional soccer governing body in a fix on how to pay referees.
But SRFA chairperson Raphael Humba said they are not panicking as they know Masters Security will fulfil their obligations.
“Of course, we are in a difficult situation, but we understand our sponsor. As much as we desperately need money for operations, we bear in mind that sometimes companies delay to meet their obligations not because they do not want to,” he said.
According to SRFA treasurer Gladson Kuyeri, it is a blessing that despite the delay to get the financial backing, “we are assured of sponsorship unlike in the past when we lacked such support. We know soon or later we will receive the money.”
During the launch of the 2017 sponsorship in March, Masters Security managing director Alfred Gangata, whose company also bankrolls TNM Super League outfit Masters Security FC, assured the nation that they will not have difficulties to finance both the lower league and the club.
Yesterday, he told The Nation that his company has not abandoned the league.
He said: “But no matter what happens, we are committed to ensuring that everything will be sorted out. We will not have any outstanding balance with SRFA and we will make them happy. Everything is in order,” he said.
At present, Chikwawa United are at the summit of the log-table in the SRFA premier division with 37 points from 16 games—a point ahead of second-placed Nchalo United who have a game in hand.
In Division One, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves are on top with 41 points from 16 games. They are three points in front of second-positioned Hangover FC. The two sides will play three more games each to wrap up the first round.
After seven days of group matches, best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Though Uganda and Wales have some potential to beat Malawi, the greatest barriers to Queens’ progression will be second-ranked New Zealand, according to Malawi deputy coach Samuel Kanyenda.
Malawi beat third-ranked England during last year’s Fast5 competition and Kanyenda believes they can repeat the heroics.
“In our group, the only team we have never beaten is New Zealand. The others, we beat them in other competitions, we will aim to beat New Zealand to increase our chances of finishing the group stages strongly,” he said.
Kanyenda also played-down Uganda’s prowess, saying when they lost to the East African side Malawi has rusty players while other regulars were not available.
“Unlike the previous tournament, the Commonwealth Games will come when netball leagues in the country are at their peaks. This will make it easier for us to train them to the required level,” he said.
Some of the players that missed the Africa Netball Championship were captain Carol Mtukule Ngwira and Europe-based sensational shooter Mwawi Kumwenda.
“The other reason we didn’t do well in that competition was the absence of regular players. We expect to have a full squad when going to the Commonwealth games. That will help us retain the cohesion and coordination among players,” he said.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Carol Bapu said the Queens face a tough task to impress at the Commonwealth Games.
“New Zealand and England are tough sides and we need to prepare thoroughly in the remaining seven months if we are to do well at the tournament,” she said.
As part of preparations for the Games, Bapu said they will organise a number of friendly matches starting with England after the Fast5 Games in October this year.
“The Fast5 tournament will help us to prepare for Commonwealth Games. After that, we will play test matches with England. We aim to secure more international friendly matches so that we iron out our weaknesses,” she said.
Meanwhile, vice-captain Joana Kachilika has pleaded for friendly matches with top sides ahead of the Games.
She said: “It is possible to qualify for the semi-finals, but it all depends on the preparations. I would love if we played friendly matches against top four-ranked teams.”
During the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Malawi finished on position five to emerge the best in Africa whereas Australia were crowned champions while New Zealand were runners-up.
