Nico Holdings plc has challenged the Malawi National Netball Team to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Nico Holdings Group head of marketing and customer experience Taweni Gondwe-Xaba announced the target yesterday during a special send-off ceremony organised at the Queens House in Namiwawa, Blantyre before the team proceeded to Nairobi, Kenya through the Bakili Muluzi International Airport in Chileka, Blantyre for the African Netball Cup.
The continental showpiece will serve as qualifier for the Netball World Cup and the Queens must finish within the top-two brackets to make the grade as they lost the privilege of automatic qualification due to a weak ranking.
Only top-seven national teams earn instant qualification on the world stage and the Queens are ranked eight, an improvement from ninth.
“It is our hope that you will do well at the African Netball Cup and qualify for the Netball World Cup. As sponsors, we expect nothing less,” said Gondwe-Xaba, whose conglomerate sponsors the Queens.
Queens’ expatriate coach Debbie Fuller said her charges will do their best to make Malawi proud.
The former New Zealand National Team player said that previously, lack of speed and poor accuracy were a thorn in the team’s performances but they have now tightened the loose ends.
“We have polished up our play, especially on speed and accuracy. With great tactical discipline, we will qualify for the World Cup,” said Fuller.
The Queens coach has taken to Kenya a15-player squad that includes Australia-based celebrated shooter Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, captain and centre Takondwa Lwazi and shooter Tendai Masamba.
Wing attacker Thandi Galeta is back in the squad after missing out on the 12-list that travelled to the recent Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Prisca Banda, Mphatso Kanyimbo and Chimwemwe Dzanja have also been added to the team.
Other players in the squad are Ethel Ng`ambi, Florence Jeke, Stella Matelezi, Martha Dambo, Shabel Bengo, Sophilet Banda, Aisha Gama and Melia Soko.
