The number of Malawian netballers in overseas leagues has dropped from five to two within the last five years while that of fellow African giants South Africa and Uganda keeps rising.
Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, who has just signed for Australian side West Coast Fever, and Joyce Mvula, who plays for English club Leeds Rhinos, are the only players that will feature for foreign league clubs in the 2025 season.
Malawi Queens captain Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, returned home in the just-ended year, ending a five-year spell in the UK while former captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira is not playing professional netball contract with Team Bath in 2023.
Laureen Ngwira is the other player who al so returned home a couple of years back.
In contrast, fifth-ranked South Africa has seen the number of their players abroad rising to 11 while sixth-ranked Uganda has three.
Mvula believes Malawi Queens ’ protracted spell of underperformance could be the reason for foreign clubs’ loss of interest in the country’s stars.
“We have not been doing well as a national team for a long time and that makes top clubs abroad look away from Malawian talent. This provides food for thought for us to up our game,” the Leeds Rhinos shooter said.
The multi – award winning goal shooter, who was recently named the best netball player of the year during the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Entertainers of the Year Awards, added that overseas clubs’ reduction of squad numbers from 12 to 10 per team could be another reason.
“To say the truth, it is by the grace of God that I’m still playing in a top league here [in England] at a time many players were affected by the recent changes in squad numbers,” said Mvula, who has been playing overseas for at least six years.
Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, who ha s re t u r ned to Kukoma Diamonds, believes more local players can be spotted by overseas clubs i f the Ma lawi Queens can be exposed to more i n ternat ional matches against big teams such as England, Australia and New Zealand.
Sh e c i ted Ma l awi ’s pa r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e imminent four-day Quad Ser i es in Nott ingham, England this February as an opportunity for such exposure.
“We haven’t been having many matches against top teams abroad for some time and this affected our chances of exporting more players because most big clubs spot talents from such games,” Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda said.
“Let me also take this opportunity to urge up-and-coming players that have been called into the national team squad, [which goes into camp non January 6], to seize this opportunity. They should put up their best performance to attract interest from foreign clubs.”
On her part, Mwawi said: “There is indeed a decline in the number of professional netballers overseas, but I believe it’s a matter of time.
“The next generation that will now take over from us will rise and be considered for such opportunities. I can only encourage the girls to have passion and work hard because it doesn’t come easily.
“Someday, they will surely make it. With determination, everything is possible and the ideal platform for one to sell herself are the major tournaments.”
NAM gen er a l s e c r e t a r y Yamikani Kauma said the main reason Malawi has failed to export talents abroad in recent years is the challenge of height as international clubs are emphasising on getting tall players.
“For the past three years, Malawi has not produced tall players such as Mwawi and Joyce due to lack of proper player-scouting strategies. This is why the association has put in place deliberate plans to scout more tall players, especially in defence and shooting,” she said.
“We have planned frequent training camps for such players to fine-tune their skills. Recruitment of tall players will be strengthened in schools in collaboration with our partners such as Malawi Schools Sports Association.”
