National Sports

NAM not giving up on Chawinga, Kanyenda

The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has said it has not given up on its intention to hire Peace Chawinga-Kalua and Sam Kanyenda as deputy coaches for the senior and junior national teams respectively.

This follows the revelation that NAM will soon meet the two coaches to discuss the contracts they turned down.

Recently, Chawinga and Kanyenda turned down NAM’s offers, but NAM general secretary Carol Bapu said they have not began a search for their replacements because they hope that the two will change their minds.

Chawinga was appointed as deputy coach to Mary Waya for the Queens while Kanyenda was chosen as an assistant to Under-21 trainer Connis Mhone.

“We will soon hear their sides of the story. We believe everything will be sorted out after that meeting,” said Bapu.

Chawinga refused to comment on whether she would be willing to attend the meeting or accept the offer after the proposed talks while Kanyenda said he would go to the meeting with an open mind.

However, Kanyenda said it is not on for him to be a deputy coach for the junior Queens after being an assistant trainer for the senior team for over five years in his 29-year coaching career.

“I believe that it would have been better if up-and-coming coaches were given the chance to drill the junior side. It would appear as if I am a greedy coach to return to a coaching role with the junior squad after so many years of being an assistant coach for the senior team.

“Nevertheless, I am willing to attend the meeting with an open mind since this is national duty,” Kanyenda said.

Queens are expected to start camp training mid-March in preparation for the Quad Series Netball Tournament in Wales, UK in May.

Initially, the Queens were scheduled to participate in Dubai Quad Series in April, which has since been cancelled.

The senior team is also expected to participate in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July while the Under-21 squad is expected to compete in the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca) Games in Botswana in September.

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