Malawi Queens’ matches in camera

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) says the Queens matches against South Africa’s Spar Proteas and England’s Roses will be played in camera.

NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala on Saturday clarified that the games are rather training matches and fans and the media will not be allowed to watch.

He said: “These are closed games. No spectators. No coverage; just training matches.”

Chimwala further explained that the games, which the three teams are using to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, will not follow the conventional netball rules and regulations.

“They will play four quarters plus one of 15 minutes each. We called for training matches for the three nations which people confused with the just ended Tri-Nation Cosana games” he said.

Chimwala, however, said the three teams will feature their full-strength squads for the training matches.

He said: “As a matter of fact, England camped in Cape Town for Commonwealth Games. So they have their full squad.”

The Queens arrived in South Africa on Friday and are expected to train tomorrow and Tuesday before their first match against South Africa on Wednesday.

Their second game will be against England on Thursday and their last one is another against South Africa.

Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa said she will not put her charges under pressure to win the games at all cost because her target is not necessarily to compete for honours but have a clear view of the players performance against the big opponents.

“Unlike the recent Cosana Cup, which restricted me to feature only 12 players, the games against South Africa and England give me freedom to test all the players in the squad. That will help me to have a clear view on which players to pick for the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

“Moreover, the fact that these imminent matches are not ranked but are against some of the best teams in the world, gives me an opportunity to enhance the players’ mental strength.”