Diamonds, Thunder battle for Rainbow Paints summit
Defending champions Kukoma Diamonds and Thunder Queens clash on Sunday at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) in a potentially explosive Rainbow Paints Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) fixture that will decide who goes top.
Tied on 18 points from six-straight wins apiece, Diamonds are at the summit of the 10-team log table thanks to a better basket difference. This means whichever team loses the match will not only dent the title dream, but also soil its clean sheet.
Diamonds are looking for victory in this match to maintain their 100 percent winning record in all competitions this year while Thunder are set to banish their losing demons against their bigger opponents for the first time in almost a decade.
“It is important for us to maintain our winning record in all competitions this season and we will do our best to win this particular match,” said Diamonds assistant coach Noel Mussa.
He said their key players including shooter Alinafe Kamwala, goal attacker Sarudzai Gondwe, centre Bridget Kumwenda and goal defender Caroline Mtukule Ngwira are ready for the showdown.
But Thunder Queens coach Christina Mkwanda-Nsinji, who mostly relies on shooter Emily Jere, centre Thandie Galeta-Saenda and goalkeeper Joana Kachilika, said they are determined to make history.
“During the first-round games of the GOtv Netball Champions League two weeks ago, we lost to Diamonds by only three baskets. That was a big sign of our determination to end our losing streak to Diamonds. We will continue our probing and we are confident of beating them in the Rainbow Paints contest this weekend,” she said.
The encounter will be preceded by three other games that will see Young Professionals taking on Polytechnic, Chilomoni Sisters entertaining Shizaella Queens and Tigresses battling it out against Serenity Stars. n
