Thorough preps key to Queens success—coach
Malawi Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa says thorough preparations are key to success at the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa next July.
She made the statement on Wednesday when asked to rate the team’s chances at the global showpiece after a draw pitied sixth-ranked Queens in Group B alongside third-ranked England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th-ranked Barbados.
Group A has Australia, Zimbabwe, Fiji and Tonga while hosts South Africa will take on Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka in Group C. Reigning champions New Zealand are in Group D together with Uganda, Singapore and Trinidad & Tobago.
Said Chawinga-Kaluwa: “There are no pushovers in our group. England are hard to beat while Scotland have been giving us tough time recently as we have been beating them by very small margins. As for Barbados, they are among teams that have tremendously improved their game.
“Therefore, our chances of doing well depend on how well we will be prepared as regards to camping and international friendlies. We need preparations that befit a World Cup. Otherwise, if we snooze, we will lose.”
The Queens last met England in July at the Commonwealth Games and lost 66-41. Malawi last played against Scotland in the 2018 Commonwealth Games where they triumphed 51-50. As for, Barbados they met at the 2019 World Cup with the Queens winning 65-41.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali admitted that the Queens need good preparations.
“The Queens really need to be very active between now and the World Cup dates. It is for this reason that we urge the corporate world and other well-wishers to join the government and sponsors FDH Bank in financially supporting the national team,” he said.
Bakali added that NAM will also ensure that the Queens technical panel is well supported.
NAM gave the Chawinga-Kaluwa-led technical panel a target of helping the Queens enhance their world ranking to fifth.
South Africa, together with Australia, England, Jamaica, New Zealand and Uganda got automatic qualification to the World Cup for being ranked within the top-six bracket before the latest rankings in November.
During the months of July and August this year, it was left to the regional qualifiers to determine the remaining teams to participate at next year’s global showpiece and Malawi made it as runners-up during Africa’s qualifiers. The 2023 Netball World Cup will be played in South Africa from July 28 to August 6.
