Diamonds, MTL Queens in do-or-die encounter
Defending champions Diamonds and MTL Queens will this Saturday meet in a do-or-die encounter that is set to decide strong OG Issa Southern Region Netball League’s (SRNL) title contenders against leaders Complex Tigresses.
If Diamonds lose, their hopes will be up in flames because they will have two defeats on the 13-team log table and it will be tough for them to stop free-scoring Tigresses from clinching their first league title in five years.
Tigresses are on top of the table on 48 points from 16 wins and have scored over 300 baskets more than Diamonds. The latter are second on 39 points from 14 games.
MTL Queens are third on 33 points from 13 matches.
For the past four years, Diamonds, who lost to Tigresses in the first round, have been winning the title and the team’s assistant coach Noel Mussa admitted yesterday they will be in trouble should they slip this weekend.
“This game will be like a final to us. Therefore, we will do our best to win the match at all cost,” Mussa said.
On the other hand, MTL Queens, who lost to Tigresses and Diamonds in the first round, are relying on this game to bridge the gap between them and Tigresses.
A win will give MTL confidence that they might end a five-year title drought.
The Queen’s team manager Annie Sanga-Kapatuka and captain Joana Kachilika did not pick calls when The Nation wanted to find out how they will approach the game. However, from their recent matches, the youthful side has shown tremendous improvements.
