Netball fans will on Saturday watch a men’s team Akabawi play Woget Stars at the Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC). The match will curtain-raise the OG Issa Southern Region Netball League encounter between titleholders Escom Sisters and MTL Queens.
The men’s netball side has been making rare appearances since Malawi hosted a men’s international netball competition in 2006 during the Cosana Netball Championships. Then, the men’s national team lost 50-25 to South Africa.
Nevertheless, netball fans should brace themselves for a rekindling of such sweet memories of seeing males challenged by female players in the court.
According to SRNL general secretary Annie Hanjahanja-Billie, the men’s team asked the league for a chance to showcase their talents to the netball lovers.
“Akabawi requested us if we could give them a chance to display their skills during one of our crucial encounters and we have given them the green light,” she said.
Akabawi’s captain Noel Mussa, who is also assistant coach for Escom Sisters, told The Nation that they decided to play the game to remind fans and authorities that men’s netball still exists in the country only that it lacks support.
“Men’s netball was launched in the country in 2003 and the national team has been participating in a number of international competitions like the Cosana Championships but its morale went cold due to lack of support.
“We, therefore, want to revive that interest among local netball fans and authorities aside from attracting attention from prospective sponsors,” Mussa said.
