Six of the Malawi Under-21 National Netball Team players, who were part of the squad that competed at the just-ended 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, have earned promotion to the senior ream, the Malawi Queens.
The six promoted players are defenders Aisha Gama and Sophilet Banda, mid-court players Melia Soko and Mestina Mtete alongside shooters Florence Jeke and Stella Matelezi.
The development comes at a time the Queens are undergoing transition following the retirement of a number of key players such as goal attacker Jane Chimaliro, defender Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira and Sindi Simtowe-Msowoya.
The six are in the 24-player squad that Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) released on Tuesday to go into camp today in Blantyre in preparation for international test matches against hosts Zimbabwe and Botswana later this month.
Matelezi, the Under-21 national team captain, said she was delighted with her promotion and she will work hard to secure a slot in the final squad.
Meanwhile, NAM has also released a 26-player squad for the men’s national netball team, which will also start camping ahead of their meetings with their Zimbabwe and Botswana counterparts.
In an interview on Tuesday, NAM general secretary Yamikani Kauma said both the Queens and Kings will play Zimbabwe between October 23 and 25 before facing Botswana on October 27.
“These test matches are part of our preparations for the Africa Netball Cup, which we are expected to host in Lilongwe later this year. We are hopeful that the test matches will help to put them in good shape ahead of the continental showpiece,” she said.
