Queens Fast5 preps in limbo

Malawi Queens are the only side yet to name squad and start camp training ahead of the Fast5 World Netball Series scheduled for Hisense Arena in Melbourne Australia between October 28 and 29.

Tune-ups for defending champions New Zealand, hosts Australia, England, Jamaica and South Africa are already at an advanced stage, having started their preparations last month. Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls even had to pull out from Caribbean Netball Championship in August to concentrate on Fast5 preparations.

Last year, the Malawi national netball team embarked on camp training at least 30 days before the contest, which pulls together the world’s top-six teams but, now, they have not hit the groundwork despite only 24 days remaining.

The delayed preparations might prove to be a recipe for disaster for the Queens, who are expected to maintain or improve their last year’s superb performance that saw them winning bronze for the first time following a 35-32 victory over their bigger opponents, England.

The Queens will take on hosts Australia, England and Jamaica on October 28 before entertaining rivals South Africa and New Zealand the following day.

Asked when the Queens squad will be named and called into camp, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Carol Bapu said everything will be in place within the next few days. However, she could not specify  the dates.

She said NAM is not worried about the camping delay because most players are already in shape after participating in the just-ended Fast5-formatted GOtv Netball Champions League.

“Last year, the girls got into camp early because they were inactive for a long time as the GOtv contest was not held in 2016. We took advantage of the just-concluded tournament to be part of our preparations,” Bapu said.

Queens’ budget for 2016 Fast5 was around K33 million from the government and the corporate world. But yesterday Bapu could not disclose how much they will use for this year’s edition and how it would be done.

She said: “I would be in a better position to communicate on funding and other important details tomorrow [today]”

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) executive secretary George Jana also refused to comment on the funding for the Queens, referring the matter back to NAM.

The Queens might also rely on a financial backup from Rach Family Trust, which announced K600 million five-year sponsorship to the national team last year. n