Mwawi donates equipment, conducts clinics in schools

Revered netballer Mwawi Kumwenda has completed conducting netball clinics in selected primary and secondary schools where she also donated netball equipment.

The Australia-based shooter, who turns out for Melbourne Vixens, embarked on the exercise last week.

The beneficiaries are Mateyo, Kazomba, Kaphuta and Bwengu primary schools in Mzimba,  Neno Girls Secondary School and Mpinji, Nasato and Nachipele primary schools in Thyolo.

Speaking to Nation Online on Tuesday, Bwengu Primary School head teacher Rodney Douglas Madise hailed Kumwenda’s gesture, saying it has inspired the learners at the school.

“She is a role model and it is not often that we have people of her calibre visiting our school.  She gave a motivational talk, encouraging the girls to take sports and education seriously. Now the girls believe they can make it in life,” he said.

The school’s sports teacher Oswald Mbeleka also expressed gratitude for holding the clinic.

“As a sports teacher, I also have benefited from the training. She taught basic netball tactics that will help me and albeit the pupils to improve netball standards here.

“It was a day well spent by the pupils and the uniforms will motivate the girls during tournaments. My plea is that someone like Gabadinho [Mhango] should also come here and do the same for  football,” he said.

In an interview, Kumwenda said she has passion for netball and wants to share her experience with young girls in the country.

“I have been conducting the exercise after school hours to give them a chance to attend classes first. It is netball that defined my future. For me to be where I am it is because of netball.

“I believe we can have professional players in the future if we share our knowledge with these young girls,” she said.

Mwawi has won a number of awards, including the 2015 Sydney Netball World Cup Player of the Tournament in Australia.