NAM calls 15 for New Zealand trip

The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has called 15 players into camp in readiness for the Fast5 Netball Series to be hosted in Auckland, New Zealand.

Camp was supposed to start on Monday, but due to other logistical problems, it started on Thursday at Blantyre Youth Centre, according to NAM.

“Government has released the money [K6 million] and now we are ready to start camp. We hope to be in camp for two weeks. The games in Auckland will start on November 9,” said NAM president Rosy Chinunda.

Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana said they have prepared something for the Queens before they leave for New Zealand.

“After camp, we plan to host them as we have prepared to motivate them some how. Now that the national football team is out of the Nations Cup, our hopes are on the Queens to bring back smiles on the faces of Malawians,” said Chihana.

Lilongwe teams have contributed five players while the rest are from Blantyre-based teams.

Civonets have contributed Tina Kamuyambeni, Jane Chimaliro and Beauty Chirwa whereas Blue Eagles Sisters have released Jessica Kachikole and Cecilia Mtukule.

The Fast5 Netball Series will be played for five days and the Queens’ first fixture is against Australia on November 9. They will also face Jamaica on the same day.

On November 10, the Queens will play South Africa and New Zealand.

Queens coach Griffin Saenda believes the Queens can now avenge the loss they suffered to South Africa in the Diamond Jubilee in August. But Saenda was not certain about beating Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica or England.

“We are familiar with South Africa and I think we can beat them as we have done before, but it will be a tough encounter against the other top four teams. They play professional netball while we do not have the training or the experience as we rarely play against them,” said Saenda.