Mwawi not available for Queens
Malawi’s netball export Mwawi Kumwenda will not feature for the Malawi Queens at the African Netball Championship which starts on June 24 because her club Peninsula Waves has important league fixtures.
Both Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda and Mwawi confirmed in separate interviews on Tuesday.
“I was told by my club that NAM had written them requesting my presence. But since the tournament has coincided with the time when the league is at a critical stage, my club will not release me to take part in the games,” said Mwawi in an interview from Melbourne.
She said if it were up to her to decide, she would have loved to participate.
“I wish all the girls success so that we can win and maintain the top position in Africa,” said Mwawi.
NAM has expressed disappointment with Waves for not releasing Mwawi for the games.
“Our agreement was that Waves would be releasing the player each time we have crucial games as is the case now, but we have observed with dismay that they have failed to honour that agreement on two occasions,” said Chinunda.
She said it is not like they are standing in Mwawi’s way, but that she must fulfil her national duties as per agreement.
In a related development, the Queens failed to regroup on Monday because of the GOtv games scheduled for this weekend in Lilongwe.
“The team was supposed to start camp on Monday, but because of the weekend fixtures, we thought it wise to defer camp to next week,” said Chinunda.
Ten teams are expected to take part in the Africa Netball Championships, but so far, those that have confirmed are South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania and Swaziland.
