MTL Queens break jinx against Tigresses
Despite their title hopes collapsing before the start of GOtv Netball Champions League’s final round matches at Don Bosco in Lilongwe on Friday, MTL Queens got a reason for celebration after beating Bingu Tigresses for the first time in five years.
Although they did it with just a single basket difference following a 40-39 triumph, MTL Queens could not resist the temptations to shed tears of joy at the result that invoked sweet memories of their glorious past when they could sweep trophies.
MTL Queens last beat the Tigresses in 2007 during the finals of the Stanbic Bank [now Standard Bank] Netball Tournament.
On Friday, the Queens started the game on a shaky note as they lost the first quarter 8-9. However, their blend of youthful and experienced players proved a hard nut to crack for the Tigresses in the subsequent segments that ended 18-17 and 31-29 in favour of the Queens.
Veteran shooter Mary ‘Atcheya’ Waya was the mastermind of the Tigresses’ surprise demolition as she scored over 30 of the Queens’ baskets while goal-defender Joana Kachilika was instrumental in easing the pressure when Amayi a Bingu stormed to a last-quarter surge.
The Queens’ team manager Anne Sanga-Kapatuka, whose side maintained the first line-up of Waya, Chikumbutso Banda, Slyvia Mtetemera, Pilirani Msuka, Esther Kaira, Martha Dambo and Kachilika throughout the encounter, expressed delight at the performance of her charges on the day.
But, surprisingly, both Kapatuka and Tigresses’ coach Charles Mhango accused umpires who handled the game of bias.
Mhango said: “We played well today, but our efforts were thwarted by bad umpiring; it is sad that as netball standards are fast improving on the domestic scene, umpires still have their favourite teams. If we had lost on merit, we could have congratulated our opponents. Nevertheless, we accept the loss.”
