Australia-based Malawi netball icon Mwawi Kumwenda says she will not play competitive netball next year as she will concentrate on raising her boy child and other netball activities off the court.
But the gangly shooter said in an interview yesterday that this does not mean she is planning to retire from playing anytime soon.
This year, Mwawi spent the better part of the season on the sidelines at her immediate-past Australian top-flight league side West Cost Fever on technicalities.
This was after Jamaican interntional Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, whom she had replaced temporarily at West Cost Fever, made an earlier-than-planned return from a maternity leave.
The 2015 Netball World Cup Player of the Tournament also missed the 2024 season as she was on maternity leave.
Said Mwawi: “Remember I went to Fever to cover up for Jhaniele, who was on maternity leave just like me and she is back on court.
“So, next year I will be raising this boy and doing a lot of netball activities off court.”
But the celebrated netballer, who is in the country on holiday with her family, brushed off suggestions that could affect her playing career, insisting she will bounce back on the big stage.
She said: ”I definitely will be there on the big stage, including the World Cup which will be hosted by Australia. [it will be] so easy to attend and participate.
“In Australia, netball off the court is also a lot of work as it involves teaching and coaching young girls and doing school talks etc.”
Mwawi, who turns 36 later this year, delights in being the first Malawian professional netballer abroad.
She was the top scorer at three successive major tournaments, the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2015 Netball World Cup.
Queens’ legend Ruth Chimombo said while the long lay-off could affect Mwawi, “her vast experience and skills could make up for that. I am sure she will also be able to come up with a proper training plan considering her base and status as a professional netballer.”
