MTL Queens, Diamonds start OG Issa elimination battle
MTL Queens and Diamonds are scheduled to face each other at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) today in an OG Issa Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) encounter. The match will signal the beginning of elimination battles for title-chase among the league’s giants.
At the moment, defending champions Complex Tigresses are on top of the 12 team log table with 12 points from four straight wins.
Diamonds and MTL Queens are second and third respectively. Only the basket difference separates them.
Last season, a single loss to Tigresses in the first round cost Diamonds the league title, which they had been keeping since 2009.
Diamonds assistant coach Noel Mussa and MTL Queens team manager Christina Mkwanda agreed that this weekend’s encounter is vital to their hunt for the crown this season.
“This match will indeed be a crucial in our campaign this season. We are training hard to ensure we walk free on Sunday,” said Mussa.
He, however, said they will be cautious on whether to feature all their five new players, including Rebecca German and Linda Mvula from Gerald Tasaukadala Sisters, because experience will matter most in this match.
On the other hand, Mkwanda said MTL Queens players are now mature and skillful enough to outclass a big team like Diamonds.
In other fixtures today, Airwing Sisters will take on Polytechnic while Alliance Capital Stars will face Gold Stars. On Saturday, the biggest match will involve Tigresses and Alliance Capital. This will happen after Tigresses, Gold Sisters and Chilomoni Sisters battle against Polytechnic, Shizaella Sisters and Prison Sisters respectively.
