Queens eat humble pie
Malawi Queens saw their rosy world crumble yesterday when they failed to make it into the top six of the Netball World Cup for the first time in two decades.
The national netball team’s hopes for a top six finish were shattered cruelly and clinically by Uganda who beat them 57-46 at Cape Town International Convention Centre.
As the Queens trooped off the court with their heads hang in disappointment, the She Cranes turned the arena into a theatre of celebration.
The enduring image was Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, who stood motionless, in complete disbelief.
In an interview, with her voice straining with emotion, she said: “Very sad that we couldn’t even make the top six.
“The girls gave their all. We need to go back to the drawing board and see where we lost the plot.”
After an intense first quarter which ended 14-all, Uganda upped the tempo in the second quarter in which their goal attacker Shadiah Nassanga tormented the Queens at will with a vintage show that saw her claim a 100 percent scoring record.
That is not all. She was fittingly named Player of the Match.
Nassanga was the conductor of Uganda’s orchestra and gave Malawi’s defence a torrid time.
Malawi trailed 28-23 at half time and by the end of the third quarter, the She Cranes led 35-43.
Queens caretaker coach Samuel Kanyenda attributed the loss to failure by his charges to raise their game as it progressed.
“But the players gave their best. We started well, but lost rhythm as the match progressed. We started losing possession needlessly. The injury of wing defender Thandi Galeta also affected us a lot,” he said.
