The 2025 Africa Netball Cup rolls into action today at Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex in Lilongwe with Malawi National Netball Teams, the Queens and Kings promising a good start to their campaigns.
Queens, ranked eighth in the world, begin their campaign with a Pool 1 fixture against 20th-ranked Botswana at 7pm while the Kings, who are having their first competitive event, face Eswatini in the men’s category’s Pool 2 opener this morning from 7am.
Malawi Queens will also face fifth-ranked team South Africa tomorrow in their second fixture before taking on Tanzania in their last pool match on Friday.
ready. | Nation
But Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa believes a good start is key to their title dreams and they will not underestimate lower-ranked Botswana, whom they beat 71-39 in their last meeting in the continental showpiece in 2017.
She said the Queens are inspired and ready for the challenge.
Said Chawinga-Kaluwa: “After intense preparations, our girls are geared up and raring to go. They’re focused, determined and hungry for a win.
“Each team on our fixture list is being taken seriously and we are leaving no stone unturned. Our Queens are a force to be reckoned with and we are confident they will put on a spectacular show.
“With our skill, teamwork and spirit, we are rating our chances highly. Bring it on! The Queens are ready to reign supreme.”
England-based shooter Joyce Mvula will lead the Queens with her experience and her shooting skills expected to make a difference.
In an interview, she said: “We are ready and I believe the team can go all the way. The preparations have been good and the young players have fitted in well and just by being in the same space with us is giving them motivation to achieve success.”
Queens’ official sponsors, Nico Group said their expectations are that Malwi will win the cup.
The company’s corporate affairs manager Mbumba Mlia-Ndasauka said: ““We have seen them train for the past weeks and we believe in them.
“We expect them to reach the finl and keep the cuip home.”
To motivate the players, Nico Group has given players and officials K250 000 each as participation fee.
They have also dangled K500 000 to each player should they win the cup.
Said Mlia-Ndasauka: “I do believe that we have a really great team of girls. They have been training for three weeks. “
Netball Association of Malawi president Vitumbiko Gubuduza is also optimistic the team will go all the way.
“I believe they will carry the Malawian flag higher. Playing at home it’s a great opportunity for us to come out on tops. I have hope in these players and I think it is a good squad,” she said.
The Kings’ coach Garvey Nyondo echoed Chawinga-Kaluwa’s confidence, saying his charges are also ready for battle.
