The Malawi Under-23 National Netball Team set out their campaign in South Africa’s Telkom Netball League yesterday with a 53-44 win over defending champions KD Queens.
In a see-saw affair monitored on SuperSport Variety 4, the Malawi Queens Cubs roared to a last-quarter surge to outsmart the hosts with player-of-the match goal-attacker Florence Jeke orchestrating the onslaught.
They narrowly led 13-10 in the first quarter before increasing the tally to 25-22 at half-time. In the third-quarter, the Cubs appeared to have lost concentration with a number of misplaced passes, allowing their South African opponents to gain momentum and force a 35-35 tie.
At the start of the last quarter, Malawi trailed by three baskets before putting up a brilliant fight to regain the lead and secure a nine-basket victory.
Malawi Under-23 coach Joana Kachilika said she was impressed with her charges’ performance and is confident of maintaining their brilliant display in the upcoming matches.
“I am very excited with my players’ performance. It was a good display that can win us any game,” she told SuperSport after the match.
In the match, Jeke scored 32 goals from 38 attempts to have an 84 percent shooting accuracy. She also had nine assists and six super-shot points.
The Cubs’ first line-up had Aida Mhone as shooter, goal attacker Jeke, wing attacker and captain Mphatso Banda, centre Veronica Anderson, wing defender Prisca Banda, goal defender Idesi Zachariah and goalkeeper Sophie Banda.
In their next fixture, Malawi face Baobabs tomorrow.
