Ngwira makes debut in England
Malawi Queens lofty defender Laureen Ngwira on Saturday made her long-awaited debut with English top-flight netball league side Team Northumbria.
However, the introduction of the former Tigresses player could not make a big impact on the performance of her new club, which seeks an answer to a winless start after seven consecutive defeats in the Netball Super League, as they lost 47-64 to fellow strugglers Surrey Storm.
According to www.northumbriasport.com, Ngwira—the third Queens’ player to turn professional after Mwawi Kumwenda and Joyce Mvula—“endured a losing debut after being handed her first start alongside Toni Anderson in an all-new Northumbria defence”.
Ngwira’s move to the English outfit has recently been marred by controversy after Tigresses complained that Northumbria signed her without their blessings as they were not consulted on the deal.
When asked if they have finally agreed terms with the English franchise yesterday, Tigresses’ team manager Helene Mpinganjira-Tasosa refused to comment.
Nevertheless, Ngwira’s father Richard told The Nation yesterday that now there is no stumbling block as her daughter secured a visa and travelled to England last week.
“The most difficult thing was to secure her visa and I am happy that finally everything is in order. I feel proud that my daughter has finally realised her dream of playing professional netball,” he said.
Northumbria website quoted Ngwira a day before her debut as saying: “It has been hard for me to get here, but I never gave up and now I am with Team Northumbria. I cannot wait to show the fans what I can do.”
“I have been in camp with the Queens back home, as we prepared for the Commonwealth Games. So I am in good shape and fit to play.”
Ngwira has since joined the Queens in New Zealand where they are expected to take part in the four-team Taini Jamison Trophy between March 21 and 24 enroute to the Gold Coast in Australia for the Commonwealth Games.
