Queens draw positives from New Zealand defeats
Malawi Queens stand-in coach Samuel Kanyenda says their strength-testing matches against New Zealand men and women’s netball teams yesterday have helped them to adapt to the enhanced Fast5 World Netball Series rules.
The national netball team, which went down 60-24 to New Zealand men’s team before narrowly losing 36-32 to fellow womens team, used the matches to prepare for the Fast5 Series that throws off tomorrow in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Queens, whose squad includes three new faces, travelled to New Zealand after just two days of camp training.
The Queens missed the last edition after failing to be within the top-six brackets on the world netball rankings, which is the qualification requirement.
“Of course, we have lost the strength-testing matches, but we have gained a lot as our girls now know everything about the enhanced Fast5 rules ahead of the tournament,” Kanyenda said.
Netball Association of Malawi general secretary Isaac Chimwala said the training matches have given the Queens a glimpse of what to expect during the tournament.
“It was a good lesson,” he said.
According to Netball Australia website, netball.com.au, Fast5 is different from traditional netball with matches being only 24 minutes long and split into six-minute quarters.
The Queens will face hosts New Zealand in their first fixture before taking on Jamaica in the afternoon.
They will be up against England and Australia on Sunday.
