Wake-up call
Some Malawi Queens stars say the just-ended Quad Series in South Africa should give authorities food for thought on the need for thorough preparations ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Queens captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira and Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda-Mbwana were commenting on the Quad Series Tournament which involved world netball giants New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, Australia Diamonds, England’s Vitality Roses and hosts South Africa’s Spar Proteas in preparation for the global showpiece scheduled for July 28 to August 6 in Cape Town, South Africa.
In an interview on Friday, Mtukule-Ngwira said the Queens’ shoddy preparations do not match “the awful lot of expectations” whenever the team takes part in big tournaments.
Said the Queens veteran: “These are big teams that are ranked above us, but they have stepped up preparations for the World Cup.
“To be honest, it is scaring and it is something that we, as players, have been discussing.
“It is always a worry that the nation expects a lot from us and yet our preparations leave a lot to be desired.
“We often assemble for a short period to work on all crucial areas such as tactics, fitness and coordination, it does not work that way.”
The Kukoma Diamonds skipper said Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) and government need to urgently look into the issue.
“The World Cup is a big tournament and it is just few months away, we need to be serious with our preparations,” said Mtukule-Ngwira.
Nevertheless, she urged her colleagues to embark on individual training instead of waiting for camp training.
On her part, Kumwenda-Mbwana said it is important for all teams to have good preparations for the World Cup.
She said: “And when you see your opponents stepping up their preparations through such series, it is a big heads up to our netball management and government.
“The Malawi Queens will represent all Malawians at the tournament.
“Let’s wait and see what the plans are before we head for the big stage. I will just advise the girls to keep fit and training.”
NAM vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali said the Quad Series is a clear indication of how serious the big guns are with preparations ahead of the World Cup.
He said: “These are among the top-five ranked teams in the world, so it really bothers us. But then we have to do with what we have.
“We presented our preparatory plans complete with the budget to our stakeholders, but we are yet to get a response
“Nevertheless, we hope to hear from them before the scheduled commencement of our preparations, which is the second week of February.
“We will make a follow-up so that the plan that we came up with in consultation with the technical panel should not flop.”
NAM revealed earlier this month that the Queens need K350 million to prepare for the global showpiece.
Bakali then urged well-wishers to join the government and the team’s official sponsors FDH Bank plc in ensuring that the Queens are well prepared.
The Queens, ranked sixth in the world and second in Africa, are in Group B alongside third-ranked England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th ranked Barbados.
