Escom Sisters players toshowcase in TZ competition

Escom Sisters players Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira and Bridget Kumwenda are in Tanzania with Filbert Bayi netball team, The Nation has established.

The two, who also play for the Malawi national netball team, the Queens, left the country on Monday to play for the Tanzanian team in a two-week tournament.

Escom Sisters coach Griffin Saenda confirmed the news and referred The Nation to the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), who facilitated the trip, for details.

NAM president Rosy Chinunda said this is the third time Malawi players are loaned to the Tanzanian team.

“It is about the friendly relationship that we established with this Tanzania team and our clubs. This is the third time Malawian players have gone to help the team. The team also requested for Joyce Mvula, but we could not release her because she is at school. A player is only allowed to be disturbed from studies for national team duties only,” said Chinunda.

She said the players have been accompanied by umpires Emily Mapulanga and Rabecca Dulanya who will officiate at the tournament.

According to Chinunda, National Umpires Committee (NUC) chairperson Whyte Mlilima has also gone to Tanzania to conduct an umpires clinic.

Filbert Bayi came to Malawi last year and played friendly matches with Blue Eagles Sisters and Civonets.

The team is owned by Filbert Bayi, a former Tanzanian long distance runner of the 1970s who set world records in 1974 and 1975. He is still the 1 500 metres Commonwealth Games record holder.