Relief for Queens

The Malawi Queens’ sixth  place World Netball ranking is no longer under threat following Uganda’s withdrawal from the Africa Netball Championship currently underway in Botswana due to administrative and financial challenges.

The Malawi National Netball Team’s ranking was under threat after withdrawing from the biennual tournament at the weekend due to unavailability of funds.

But they breathed a sigh of relief after it emerged on Sunday that the She-Cranes, who are ranked just a step below the Queens, will also not take part.

The Queens and Uganda are only separated by a rating of five on world rankings.

In an interview yesterday, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) technical director Samel Kanyenda described the development as “a timely relief”.

He said: “Looking at the gap in points and ratings, definitely Uganda would have gone above us.

“But at the same time, we have lost out on exposing new players that have shown a lot of promise.

“This would have been an ideal tournament to expose them, considering that we rarely take part in international test-series.”

On the other hand, NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala said: “Following Uganda’s withdrawal, what it means now is that we should not expect any movements in as far as the top three Afrixan teams’ ranking is concerned.

“But at the same time, it is a missed opportunity for exposure for the talent that we have just discovered.”

Australia-based Queens’ star Mwawi Kumwenda said had Uganda taken part, it would have been a misfortune for the Queens.

She said: “They [Uganda] are not far off. So it’s relieving to learn that they too will not be taking part.  But when you look at the exposure of the team, especially upcoming players, we have lost out.”

Ugandan online publication  independent.co.ug quoted chairperson of  an ad-hoc Normalisation Committee for Netball in that country Moses Mwase as having said  it has been difficult for the Ugandan team to mobilise on very short notice amid recent management turmoil, adding that the team cannot be able to participate under such circumstances.

Reads the report in part: “The decision comes against the backdrop of a crisis that saw the [Uganda]  National Council of Sports revoke the certificate of recognition for the Uganda Netball Federation [UNF], which was responsible for overseeing the national netball team.”

It further says the turmoil began when Uganda Netball Federation President Sarah Babirye Kityo clashed with National Council of Sports general secretary Patrick Ogwel.

This will be the first time that Africa’s top three ranked teams will miss the tournament as reigning champions South Africa’s Spar Proteas are also not taking part and the absence of the big guns is likely to affect the tournament’s hype while giving other teams a chance to shine.

Immediate-past NAM president Khungekile Matiya, who is Africa Netball Federation general secretary, could not be reached for comment yesterday on the effects of the big three’s absence.

During the previous tournament, Malawi finished third while Uganda were the runners-up.