Malawi Queens coach Joana Kachilika has named five new faces in her final squad for the Spar Challenge Test Series against South Africa as the Malawi National Netball Team’s rebuilding drive gathers momentum.
The five, who include graduates from the Under-21 National Netball Team, are Ethel Ng’ambi, Alice Mvula, Florence Gamuka, Aisha Gama and Esther Phiri.
However, the team will be without its star shooter Joyce Mvula, who has returned to England to finalise a new deal with Super League side Leeds Rhinos.
Malawi will face their age-old regional rivals Spar Proteas on October 31, November 2 and 3 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.
Briefing the media on the progress of the preparations, Kachilika said the rookies are adapting well.
She said: “We want them to learn from their senior colleagues gradually and so far so good.
“The focus has been on improving fitness levels, combinations and coordinations and the response has been encouraging.”
The former Queens captain said their priority at the test series will be to gauge where the team stands.
“We want to see where we are doing well and where we need to improve on. Over and above that, it will be about exposing the youngsters,” she said.
But captain Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda said the preparations have gone on well.
On the test series, the former Scotland-based goal defender said: “Of course, we have a couple of new young players, but that should not be an excuse that we shouldn’t do well.”
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) vice-president Lumbani Mtonyo also said there should not be a lot of expectations.
“Expectations are always there, but at the same time, what we need to bear in mind is that we are building a new team and we have a couple of new players who need to learn from experienced players as well as gain exposure” she said.
Mtonyo said the target is to improve on world rankings by two steps, “or, at least, a step. So, we can say we have started our roadmap of rebuilding the Queens”.
She also said the team has relocated to Blantyre for the final week of their preparations so that the players can interact with their new sponsor Nico Group through a number of activities that have been lined up.
Meanwhile, NAM general secretary Yamikani Kauma has said Mvula already informed the association that she would excuse herself once her British visa was ready.
The rest of the players are Vinkhumbo, Shabel Bengo, Bridget Kumwenda, Shira Dimba, Thandie Galeta, Jessica Sanudi, Martha Dambo, Beatrice Kumwenda, Stella Materazi and Tendai Masamba.
