Malawi Queens are now all set to host the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Association (Cosana) Tri-nations Tournament at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) Sports Complex in Blantyre between June 12 and 16.
This comes after government, three days ago injected K11 million into the competition that will see the Queens taking on Zimbabwe and Namibia in games that will have an impact on rankings.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali and Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa yesterday said the hosting of the tournament is a boost to the team’s preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England this July.
The Cosana event will also be the Queens’ refreshing rehearsal before taking on highly-ranked England’s Roses and hosts South Africa’s Spar Proteas in another tri-nation tourney between June 28 and 30.
“We are grateful to the government, through the Sports Council, for the support,” Bakali said.
He said Zimbabwe and Namibia, who are expected to arrive this Friday, will pay for their own travel and accommodation.
“Let me also emphasise that the games will be played indoors and netball lovers will have to pay at the door to watch the matches,” said Bakali.
On her part, Chawinga-Kaluwa said the matches will help Malawi improve their rankings as well as giving players more play time ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
“It is going to give us, the coaches, a very good stage for assessing the players. This [tourney] is good for the Queens,” she said.
The Queens have just completed two-week camp training in Blantyre with K15 million support from their official sponsors, FDH Bank. plc
Prior to the recent camping, local-based players have hardly been active since their first camping in February and the coach had been assessing them through online sessions, courtesy of telecommunication service providers TNM plc, who have been providing the players and the technical panel with data bundles for the last six months.
Chawinga-Kaluwa recently told The Nation that while online sessions were good, physical assessment of players through training camps and friendly matches were the most effective.
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