Queens coach admits friendly too close to SA match

The Queens’ build-up match against Trinidad and Tobago, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been shifted to Thursday morning, a development coach Peace Chawinga-Kalua fears could affect their opening 2015 World Cup match against South Africa tomorrow at Sydney Olympic Park in Australia.

The match is part of the warm-up games organised by the International Netball Federation (INF) for the participating teams to tune up for the 2015 World Netball Cup (WNC), which rolls into life on Friday.

“I am not aware of the reasons for the changes, suffice to say it is too close to our opening match, but then the preparatory matches are arranged by INF so that the teams can get the feel of the venues and the rules, so that if there are any queries, we can raise them in advance.

“And in such circumstances, I am afraid there is nothing we can do. Had we arranged it ourselves, it could have been possible to review,” she said.

Nevertheless, on Monday Chawinga-Kalua said the Thursday’s match will provide her the opportunity to tune up for the Proteas and try some combinations.

“It will also be the only friendly match that we will play before we get into the thick of things, so it will give us a picture of how prepared we are.

“It will further assist us to identify our shortfalls, get the feel of the match venue, the rules and so on,” said Chawinga-Kalua. n