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Mvula basks in English top-league glory

Malawi Queens shooter Joyce Mvula on Saturday inspired her English top-league side Manchester Thunder to their first Vitality Netball Superleague title in five years.

BBC Sport waxed lyrical on the lofty shooter’s contribution to Thunder’s 57-52 comeback victory over defending champions Wasps in the grand final at the Copper Box Arena, where they successfully recovered from a 45-39 third-quarter deficit.

“The Black and Yellows’ shooter Joyce Mvula was having the game of her life, nonchalantly shooting from anywhere in the D,” the publication stated in a match report.

Mvula: I am happy

However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the lofty shooter as she limped off the court in the final quarter with a knee injury according to the report Manchester Thunder website www.manchesterthunder.co.uk, said things took a turn for the worse when Mvula fell and then “she hobbled off with a suspected knee injury, passing the mantle, and the pressure, to Eleonar Cardwell”.

Nevertheless, the ultimate that, even after the sustaining the injury, she kept her face bright with excitement.
“I am glad to be part of my team’s historic victory. I have been looking forward to this great moment,” said the 24-year-old, who is among the 10 players nominated for the top-flight league’s Player-of-the-Season Award.
Thunder coach Karen Greig was quoted on BBC Sport as saying the seriousness of Mvula’s injury will be known after being scanned.

“It was unfortunate for Joyce having to come off as she had a great game. We do not quite know what is wrong and she will have to get a scan. But hopefully it is only a tweak of her knee. We will look after her before she goes back to Malawi in a few weeks,” she said.

If Mvula’s injury turns out to be a serious one, it could be a big blow to Malawi Queens’ campaign at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England as the national netball team will also miss the services of another reliable shooter Mwawi Kumwenda, who is recuperating from an injury.

This is the third season that Mvula has been playing for Thunder. Last year, she won two awards at her club’s 2018 awards ceremony, including Players’ Player of the Year.

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