Malawi Queens have vowed to punch above their weight and end their decade-long losing streak against continental rivals South Africa when they clash this evening in the Vitality Quad Series at the Copper Box Arena in London, England.
It has been a rocky ride for the Malawi National Netball Team against the Spar Proteas who have shown no mercy in the demolition of their once feared rivals in the past 10 years.
The last time Malawi beat South Africa in conventional netball was at the 2015 Netball World Cup with a 58-51 victory.
But buoyed by their comprehensive 14-basket margin victory over Uganda’s She Cranes last Sunday in Nottingham, the Queens have vowed to turn it all around today.
South Africa stand proudly at the summit of the four-nations showpiece with four points, having won both their games against Uganda and hosts England’s Vitality Roses and are within touching distance of qualifying for the final.
On the other hand, third-placed Malawi, who are tied on three points with the second-placed hosts, will be hoping to stop the South Africans in their track and count on table-anchors Uganda to stun England in the other match, to have realistic hopes of making it to the final-a tall order, but not beyond the realms of possibility.
An upbeat Queens’ co-coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa said in an interview that they are well prepared for the showdown.
“We know that it has been a while since we won against South Africa and that they are far ahead in terms of class, but we are geared,” she said.
“Remember that all the teams in this competition were always beating us for a while, but we managed to turn the tables against Uganda and I don’t think South Africa can be exceptional.”
The Queens gaffer also said they do not have a cold sweat ahead of the match.
“We are going for them,” she said.
Chawinga-Kaluwa also said they have done their homework on the South Africans.
“We have drilled the girls on tactics and we believe we are ready to showcase what we have got and bring better results,” said.
Queens captain Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda was also buoyant, saying: “We are more than prepared for the match.”
She said the Africa Netball Championship games in Namibia in December last year helped them to identify their weak areas.
Said Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda: “The coaches have been working in those areas. We also trained hard ahead of the tournament.
“We are not looking backwards and we have no excuse [if things don’t go our way.] We trained and we are here to win.”
On the other hand, despite a good run so far, South Africa coach Jenny van Dyk stressed that much work remains to be done.
She said: “The work is not done yet. We still have another weekend to go and the final spot that we need to secure… I think it’s secured, but we want to win that one as well.
“So there’s still a lot we need to do.”
The last time the two teams met was at the 2024 Africa Netball Championship in Swakapmund, Namibia, where South Africa triumphed 63-35.
Before that, they also met in the Spar Challenge Netball Series in Johannesburg a couple of months earlier where the Spar Proteas won all the three matches 68-31, 69-38 and 69-24.
England-based star shooter Joyce Mvula, who was named player of the match against Uganda, will lead the Queens in attack aided by promising goal attacker Ethel Ng’ambi, who has shone brightly so far at the tournament.
Pint-sized centre Takondwa Lwazi-Chiwaya, wing defender Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango and defenders Tendai Masamba and Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda as well as wing attacker Thandi Galeta, are the other key players for Malawi.
