Malawi Queens’ co-coaches Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa and Mary Waya have trimmed the squad from 26 to 15 after a week of camping in Lilongwe ahead of the Africa Netball Championship in Namibia.
Waya in an interview yesterday said they expect to drop three more players before the team’s departure for the continental championship scheduled for December 9 to 14 in Swakopmund.
The notable dropped players are Bridget Kumwenda and Molly Chisambiro. Others are Mphatso Kanyimbo, Chifuniro Moses, Beatrice Kumwenda, Mestina Mtete, Ella Dafter,Tinkhani Ndlovu, Patricia Moyo, Lerrie Banda and Julie Kamwera.
“The players showed great skill and commitment. However, we had to trim the squad. We have not necessarily abandoned them as they will get into our programme that aims to establish two other sets of national teams,” Waya said.
The squad now remains with five experienced players, namely, recalled centre Takondwa Lwazi-Chiwaya, defenders Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango, Martha Dambo and wing attacker Thandie Galeta.
Other notable faces in the squad include Tendai Masamba, Florence Gamuka, Shabel Bengo and Aisha Gama. The new faces are Lusako Mhango, Flora Chipeta, Ethel Ng’ambi, Cynthia Khunga, Florence Jeke and Thoko Makunganya.
Before trimming the squad, Chawinga-Kaluwa said that all the players were responding well.
“There is tough competition and we will struggle to come up with the final squad,” she said.
Chawinga-Kaluwa said they assessed the players’ performance based on various methods such as technical ability and game adaptability.
On Saturday, the Queens lost 54-48 to the men’s national netball team Malawi Kings at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe before winning 39-33 in their second meeting yesterday in training matches.
