Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has challenged the Malawi Queens to win the upcoming Quad Series in Nottingham, United Kingdom in February as they have ample time for preparations.
NAM general secretary (GS) Yamikani Kauma said this after releasing a 21-player squad to go into camp in Blantyre on January 6.
He said the team’s rebuilding drive should not be an excuse for dismal performance on the international stage.
During the four-day Quad Series, the world’d seventh-ranked Malawi National Netball Team will compete against fourth-ranked England’s Vitality Roses and fellow African giants fifth-ranked South Africa’s Spar Proteas and sixth-placed Uganda’s She Cranes.
“We will not accept excuses for poor performance because the team has ample time for preparations,” Kauma said.
The NAM GS said by now results of the Queens’ rebuilding process should be showing after they recently had the three-match Test Series against hosts South Africa before competing in the Africa Netball Championship in Namibia.
“Of Course, we understand that the Queens are still undergoing the rebuilding process but that does not mean the team should always underperform. Results should start showing,” said Kauma.
“If we are to lose games at the Quad Series, that should happen by the smallest margin possible.”
Kauma said the squad now has a good combination of experienced and new players.
During the Test Series against South Africa, the Queens lost all their three matches by at least 30-basket margins. At the Africa Netball Championship, the team stuttered to a fourth place finish for the first time in history following a loss to 13th-ranked Zimbabwe in third-placed match.
One of Malawi Queens co-coaches Mary Waya yesterday requested for a questionnaire when asked to comment but she not responded to at press time yesterday.
Commenting on the quad series on England Netball’s www.englandnetball.co.uk, Vitality Roses head coach Jess Thirlby said: “We can’t wait for this February’s international series and what will be a brilliant test against these exciting and ever-strengthening African nations.”
Meanwhile, Kauma said England-based Leeds Rhinos star shooter Joyce Mvula, who missed the Africa Netball Championship due to club commitments, has confirmed her availability while Australia-based star Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, who has just signed for that country’s top side West Coast Fever, will miss the event because she might not be 100 percent fit after recently giving birth.
Apart from Mvula, other experienced players that have been called up are centre Takondwa Lwazi-Chiwaya, defenders Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango, Martha Dambo and wing attacker Thandie Galeta.
Other notable faces include Tendai Masamba, Shabel Bengo and Aisha Gama. Some of up-and-coming players that have been retained after the Africa Netball Championship are Flora Chipeta, Ethel Ng’ambi, Florence Jeke, Thoko Makunganya and Nancy Mwaulambo
Three local-based players Lusako Mhango, Cynthia Khunga and Florence Gamuka, who were part of the continental showpiece, have been dropped.
The following is the Queens’ full squad: Shooters: Joyce Mvula, Nancy Mwaulambo, Ethel Ng`ambi, Florence Jeke, Ruth Kaliyenda, Tendai Masamba and Jullie Kamwera. Centres: Takondwa Lwazi-Chiwaya, Thandi Galeta, Flora Chipeta, Beatrice Kumwenda and Alice Mvula. Defenders: Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, Aisha Gama, Shabel Bengo, Fanada Saidi, Thoko Makunganya, Martha Dambo, Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango, Chifuniro Moses and Mphatso Kanyimbo.
