TOP OF THE SPORT
It felt so good watching the Queens, Malawi’s national netball team turning on a vintage show against South Africa’s Proteas which was sweet to the eye in the company of Boniface, the fella who helps with house chores.
And as Mwawi Kumwenda and Sindi Simtowe kept the baskets flowing, we could not help but watch starry-eyed, prompting Boniface to comment: “Koma ma striker athuwo ndikawawa (our strikers are superb).” Well he probably meant to say shooters, but for someone who is so much into football, I understood him.
Such is the Queens’ magic that some men abandoned the comfort of their beds in the early hours, living their spouses to endure the cold conditions just to get a glimpse of the proceedings as they unfolded in Sydney, Australia. Of course, there were others who were out for mischief—just to admire the netballers in their skin-tight mini tops uniforms which expose the thunder thighs.
It was charming to watch the artists of deception in this game—Mwawi and Sindi—taunting and teasing the South Africans.
There are some very special moments in sport when time appears to stand still, like it was when the Queens broke the record and became the first team to convert 100 baskets on the global stage and their opponents, Sri Lanka could not help, but watch starry-eyed. It was a confirmation that probably there is more about our ladies than kuluka zidoyilo (knitting) and dancing to the popular ‘Tsika msungwana tsika…itukule, itukule itukule’ at bridal showers’.
Sadly though, we keep on embracing our Queens only when they are shining on the big stage, but turn a blind eye when they need our support and their names are rolling off our tongues so sweetly when we can do more.
AOB: English Premiership is now on, Good morning Gunners! Let’s get ready to rumble! Glory be to God. Uloliwe..Uloliwe wayidudula hii…Neng’esiza [The train is pushing]. n
