Friday, March 5, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports National Sports

Queens crowned African champs

by Johnny Kasalika
12/05/2012
in National Sports
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

queens dancing | The Nation OnlineFor a nation that is badly in need of hope, the Queens’ African Netball Championship success in Tanzania Saturday morning, was refreshingly welcome.

RelatedHeadlines

4 athletes in Zambia for Olympics qualifiers

Covid-19 restrictions affect NAM elections

Malawian boxer risks life ban

The triumph, coming barely five days after the plummeting of the Malawi kwacha, was a breath of fresh air for a nation weighed down by economic problems.

The Malawi national netball team (Queens) beat minnows Lesotho 59-18 to win the continental showpiece at the National Stadium in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam.

In a game that the Queens needed to win in order to seal the championship, their Basotho opponents froze like flat-footed penguins and they could just not stand the heat.

With captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira at the hub of their best moves, the Queens demolished Lesotho with a performance of hunger, conviction and class.

In the end, they turned the court into a theatre of celebration and there were scenes so beautiful that could have been fit for the eyes of angels in their flight.

The predominantly new-look Queens won all their six games and veteran coach Griffin ‘Zagallo’ Saenda said he felt good to win the continental showcase on his return.

“I am very happy for the girls. They worked hard and gave their all to achieve this feat. We only trained for eight days, but they managed to play their hearts out, I salute them.

“Apart from coming out victors, the tournament has also helped us to take note of some weaknesses in the new team which need to be worked on ahead of future events.

“I was impressed with performance of the new players, in particular shooter Joyce Mvula who scored most of our baskets,” said Saenda.

He added that the win has proved his critics wrong.

“There was a lot of talk after I named the squad and some people criticised the team selection, saying some of the players I picked were not fit to play for the national team. But they have been proved wrong because I knew exactly what I was doing.

“People should know that every coach has his or her own tactics and must be left to select players they think can do the job ,” he said.

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Hellene Mpinganjira said they dedicate the cup to Malawi’s new President Madame Joyce Banda.

“This is a special dedication to the president from the netball family as a token of appreciation for her commitment to developing sports in general and netball in particular.

“We’ll present the trophy to her. But again, the success is a true testimony that there is life with or without veterans,” said Mpinganjira.

She also thanked the Malawian Embassy in Tanzania for supporting the team.

“Since we arrived on Sunday, they have been coming to our hotel and games to support us. In fact, they organised a dinner for us on Friday. So, we really appreciate their gesture because that motivated us a lot,” she said.

The team returns home today and Mpinganjira has asked for a heroes’ welcome at the Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.

The Queens beat Zambia 56-33 in their opening game on Tuesday before defeating hosts Tanzania 34-30 on the same day.

On Wednesday, they team saw-off Zimbabwe 44-22 before beating Botswana 44-22 on Friday.

Previous Post

Don’t fire Ken Lipenga

Next Post

Sulom snubs SRFL

Related Posts

Part of the team: Lifa
National Sports

4 athletes in Zambia for Olympics qualifiers

March 4, 2021
Matiya | The Nation Online
National Sports

Covid-19 restrictions affect NAM elections

March 4, 2021
Tcheta | The Nation Online
National Sports

Malawian boxer risks life ban

March 4, 2021
Next Post
The Nation Online Sulom snubs SRFL

Sulom snubs SRFL

Opinions and Columns

In pursuit of development

The future of aid

March 4, 2021
Business Unpacked

Take time to know your pension’s worth

March 4, 2021
Rise and Shine

How do successful people think?

March 4, 2021
My Turn

Unmasking Covid-19 vaccine

March 3, 2021

Trending Stories

  • Under probe: The Reserve Bank building in Mzuzu

    Exclusive: RBM’s Mzuzu branch payment mess exposed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Minister wants Msundwe police officers prosecuted

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Charcoal traffickers fined K800 000, vehicle forfeited

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Macra to introduce fees for phone numbers

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawian boxer risks life ban

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.