Queens’ Fast5 camp Oct 1

Malawi national netball team, the Queens, go into camp on October 1 in preparation for the Fast5 Netball World Series slated for October 29 in Australia.

According to Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda, a month-long camp at a yet to be announced venue in Blantyre, will be enough to keep the team in shape.

However, she said they are yet to finalise the appointment of an interim technical panel, which will select the squad following the expiry of coach Peace Chawinga-Kalua’s contract in July.

“We are in the process of finalising the appointment of the coaching panel and we are completing other critical arrangements such as meeting our K33 million budget for the competition. However, I can confirm that the girls will start camp training on October 1,” Chinunda said.

The host country and the International Netball Federation (INF) are expected to provide accommodation and travel expenses for participating teams.

Meanwhile, local netball supporters group ‘Our Queens, Our Pride’ has stepped up its campaign to garner moral and financial support for the national team.

“We, therefore, plead with the corporate entities and media organisations plus those that want to be part of this conversation to express their interest in a bid to help the Queens do well at the Fast5,” the group’s chairperson Hlupikile Chalamba said.

Last year, the group raised K2.7 million for the Queens’ participation in the 2015 World Netball Cup in Australia.

Chalamba said they will conduct fundraising activities.

Malawi Queens are ranked second in Africa and sixth in the world. Poor performance at international events such as the Fast5 has the potential to see the team drop further on the rankings. n