Covid-19 hits netball hard
Unlike football, there is no indication from International Netball Federation (INF)that netball players will receive coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic relief package.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) with funding from Fifa has already offered to pay TNM Super League players and officials K40 000 each for at least six months starting this June.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) says INF has not indicated if it will assist its affiliates in the fight against the economic effects of the pandemic.
Southern Region Netball League team Serenity Stars chairperson Dalitso Chinyama said the team has stopped paying players because of the pandemic.
She said: “We are not a sponsored team and it is difficult to keep on paying our players for no activity.
“There’s nothing we can do about it, but we know our players are affected.”
In an interview, Kukoma Diamonds captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira also said life is no longer the same as their salaries have been significantly reduced.
“For some of us playing netball is our job. When we train we receive allowances just like as when we have games. With no activity going on, I would say we have lost about 40 percent of our monthly salary because what we get is just upkeep allowance,” she said
Mtukule-Ngwira also said the sports ban is taking a toll on players fitness.
“We are not training normally as team sessions were suspended,” she said.
Kukoma Diamonds chairperson Limbikani Mtonyo said the Covid-19 has forced them to stop paying game and training allowances.
She said “As a team we are still paying our players their upkeep allowances. But we know that the Covid-19 has affected them just as it has affected sports globally.
“We are aware that due to suspension of netball activities their upkeep allowance has been affected because they are not receiving training and games bonuses.”
Blue Eagles Sisters coach Sam Kanyenda said his team has been negatively affected as they are failing to monitor players in their respective homes to check if they are doing individual practices.
He also said the team suspended paying allowances to players.
On his part, Civonets chairperson Reuben Luhanga said they are able to monitor their players through social media.
“We are greatly affected by the disease as we don’t meet physically for trainings, but we are trying to follow our players on how they are doing in their respective homes,” he said.
