Queens need extra K217m
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has submitted a consolidated K217 million budget for the Malawi Queens ahead of the Fast5 World Netball Series and Africa Cup.
The Queens were initially scheduled to go into camp last week, but it was delayed after Malawi National Council of Sports demanded a consolidated budget.
Both tournaments are scheduled for next month. The Fast5 tourney will be hosted by New Zealand while the Africa Cup is earmarked for Botswana.
In an interview yesterday, NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala said: “We have done the needful and we will wait to hear from Sports Council,” he said.
Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa also acknowledged receipt of the consolidated budget amounting to K217 million from NAM.
“We have received it and we are going to send it to the right authorities for the next course of action,” he said.
But in an interview yesterday Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire said the process will still take a bit of time as his ministry needs to negotiate for extra funding.
“NAM already exhausted their [K300 million] annual allocation and that means we need to ask Treasury for extra funding.
“That is my only worry because negotiating for extra funding is not a straight-forward process.”
On whether the delay to go into camp could affect the team’s preparations, Queens caretaker coach Samuel Kanyenda, who is also NAM technical director, said: “In a way it will because we were supposed to start last week and we have called a number of new players who needed a bit of time and be drilled and combine with the old players.
“So, there is little I can say, the NAM GS should be able to shed more light.”
Meanwhile, Botswana Netball Association says it is yet to decide on hosting the Africa Cup scheduled for November 26 to December 6.
Botswana online publication mmegi.bw quoted Botswana Netball Association spokesperson Paul Mokeresete as having said that they are still weighing the options. modalities.
The Queens finished third at the previous Africa Cup edition hosted by Namibia in 2021 which South Africa won.
Their last participation at Fast5 Series was in 2018 in Melbourne, Australia where they finished fourth.
