Presidential Netball continues December 28
After three months of uncertainty over continuity of this year’s Presidential Netball Championships, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has announced that the tournament will be completed on December 28.
NAM general secretary Carol Bapu confirmed on Wednesday the date and that the finals, which were thrown into chaos after they disqualified holders Tigresses for featuring Laureen Ngwira who was shrouded in a pregnancy test controversy, will return to Area 30 netball court in Lilongwe.
“I can confirm that the national finals will continue at Area 30 in Lilongwe. All issues pertaining to the halting of the event have been resolved and netball lovers should get set for a great netball feast next week,” said Bapu.
The reinstatement of Tigresses in the contest follows Sports Council’s recent demand after clearing the team of any wrongdoing and last Monday’s ruling by a disciplinary committee that fined the team K40 000 (about $100) for protesting its exclusion.
Then, irate Tigresses players and supporters bayed for the blood of NAM treasurer Abigail Sharrif for initiating the pregnancy test which they described as a witch-hunting tactic aimed at spoiling their title defence.
Tigresses will take on Civonets in the semi-finals while winners of this match will square up against Diamonds in the finals. Diamonds made it to the finals after beating Blue Eagles Sisters 59-58.
The champions will take home K4 million (about $10 000) and a trophy while runners-up will get K2 million. Losing semi-finalists will battle it out in the third-placed encounter for a K1 million (about $2 500) prize.
