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Coach relieved with Mwawi’s return

Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kalua has said relief was her prevalent emotion when star shooter Mwawi Kumwenda finally joined the squad ahead of next month’s World Netball Cup in Sydney, Australia.

Mwawi (L) reaches for the ball under the challenge of Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda  during the Queens’ training session yesterday morning
Mwawi (L) reaches for the ball under the challenge of Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda
during the Queens’ training session yesterday morning

The New Zealand-based gangly shooter joined the Queens camp on Tuesday ending her year-long hibernation following a protracted impasse with the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM).

“Obviously I am excited with her return, she is a key member of the team owing to her experience and talent.

“At her club [Tactix] in New Zealand, she maintains 90 percent shooting accuracy against the players we are expected to face at the world tournament. She is a world class player every national coach would love to have in the ultimate squad,” said Chawinga-Kalua.

The coach said they had a meeting with Mwawi and she understood the importance of serving her nation.

“The good thing is that she is someone who loves her country,” she said.

She said out of all the players that were called up, only Cecilia Mtukule has not pitched up.

“But she gave us the reasons for her failure to join the squad,” said Chawinga-Kalua.

Commenting on the progress of the preparations, the Queens mentor said: “We do not have enough time to undergo preparations that we would have loved to have, but we will try to make good use of the little time we have.”

The Queens are scheduled to depart on July 29 for Australia for pre-tournament games that will be played from August 4-5 before the actual tournament rolls into life on August 7.

Currently there are 19 players in camp, but the squad will be trimmed to 12 at a later stage.

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