NAM unaware of Mwawi’s loan deal

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) yesterday said it has not been officially communicated to by its New Zealand counterparts about shooter Mwawi Kumwenda’s prospective loan move to her former club Kukoma Diamonds.

NAM general secretary Carol Bapu was responding to a question on whether the Malawi Queens’ star shooter will be allowed to play on the domestic scene following her team Tactix’s acceptance to briefly loan her to Diamonds.

In a letter dated August 30 2015 addressed to Diamonds and copied to NAM, Tactix Netball Mainland’s chief executive officer Bright Hearn confirms that they have given the player the go ahead to feature for her former team while she is on off-season holiday.

“The Mainland Tactix are happy to support Mwawi playing for the Kukoma Diamonds while in Malawi.

“We see this as  beneficial for Mwawi to continue playing netball and come into our 2016 ANZ Championship season with match fitness,” reads part of the letter.

But reacting to the development, NAM general secretary Carol Bapu said: “I cannot comment because we have not been communicated to officially. The letter which Mainland Tactix has written is addressed to Kukoma Diamonds as a club and not us as an association and we are not even in receipt of the copy.”

She also said Tactix need to clear Mwawi through the New Zealand Netball Association as it is a prospective international move.

“We are not trying to block the move, but procedures need to be followed. After we get official communication, we will look into the issue,” said Bapu.

Nevertheless, Diamonds coach Griffin Saenda said they are looking forward to Mwawi’s return ahead of the GOtv Netball Challenge action from this Friday.

Mwawi, who has already started training with Diamonds, said she will travel to Mzuzu on Wednesday for the GOtv tournament.