Monday, April 12, 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 Editors Pick

Queens sidelined

by Solomon Manda
16/09/2016
in Editors Pick, National Sports
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Malawi national netball team, the Queens, have for the first time been sidelined from the annual Diamonds Netball Challenge scheduled for the end of this month in South Africa.

Netball Association fo Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda says the development will affect the team’s preparations for the 2016 Fast5 World Netball Series in Australia from October 29.

RelatedHeadlines

FAM hopeful on Kamuzu Stadium

Mixed fortunes for MSE

Court favours Unima on virtual graduation

Queens (in black) and South Africa in action during the 2015 Diamonds Challenge
Queens (in black) and South Africa in action during the 2015 Diamonds Challenge

She said the Queens have for the past three years been relying on the fully-funded invitational Diamonds Challenge to tune up for global events.

“We were surprised to note that we are not on the list of participants this year. However, it is a South African event and they can choose who to invite for participation,” said Chinunda.

“But, I must confess, this is a big blow to us because we expected to use the competition as our main preparations for the imminent Fast5 World Netball Series.”

South Africa have decided not to invite them for this year’s contest, opting for Jamaica and Africa’s lowly-ranked sides Uganda and Zambia.

The Queens took part in the 2015 Diamonds Challenge as they tuned-up for the 2015 Netball World Cup and they narrowly lost 35-40 in the finals to South Africa.

Though fifth on the world netball rankings with 141 rating points, South Africa Proteas are just four points ahead of sixth placed Queens, and sidelining them means the Proteas could widen the points gap after playing more international games as the Queens remain dormant due to inactivity.

Zambia and Uganda, who are 16th with 57 points and 11th with 90 points respectively, do not pose any threat to South Africa, but will help the Proteas earn some rating points.

According to netball analyst Wesley Namasala, the Proteas have chosen to invite Jamaica as a ploy to try and reduce the rating-points gap that exists between them.

Jamaicans are ranked fourth in the world with 149 rating points, eight points above South Africa.

“If South Africa manages to beat Jamaica in the Diamonds Challenge, they will gain more rating points and reduce the gap that exists between the two sides. South Africa now eye the fourth place on the rankings table and are not comfortable to invite the Queens because they know that it will only assist Malawi to gain more rating points,” Namasala said.

Last year, the Queens were above Proteas on the rankings, but after the tables turned in favour of the South African, Malawi Queens are no longer attractive.

Asked why the Queens, who are sponsored by Airtel Malawi cannot organise international friendly matches, Chinunda said NAM does not have funds compete against Proteas.

“It pains, but we can do nothing. We can just watch as our rivals progress because we do not have adequate funding to play more international friendly matches. At present, we only rely on funding from government while the Proteas have at least five big companies behind them,” she said.

Chinunda said the Queens will now rely on friendly matches against local clubs to prepare for Fast5 tourney.

NAM is also yet to appoint a Queens coach, who will call the squad for camp training on October 1.

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) executive secretary George Jana had not yet responded to a questionnaire about the Queens’ situation as we went to press .

Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development spokesperson Christopher Mbukwa could not pick up a phone call.

Avatar
Solomon Manda
Previous Post

Coca-Cola Kuphaka Life calls for registration

Next Post

Ng’ambi’s controversial goal earns Stars point

Related Posts

Bullets believe fans will turn up in large numbers like it was against Fomboni
National Sports

FAM hopeful on Kamuzu Stadium

April 12, 2021
MSE | The Nation Online
Business News

Mixed fortunes for MSE

April 12, 2021
graduation | The Nation Online
National News

Court favours Unima on virtual graduation

April 12, 2021
Next Post
Closing in on Leopards deal: Ng’ambi

Ng’ambi’s controversial goal earns Stars point

Opinions and Columns

Political Uncensored

Managing the dream

April 11, 2021
My Thought

Malawi needs fixing, not politicking

April 11, 2021
People’s Tribunal

Don’t intimidate Nyasaland Union of Teachers

April 11, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Longevity in power no solution

April 11, 2021
https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf

Trending Stories

  • Malawi Airlines is yet to post a profit since it took to the skies

    Malawi Airlines faces liquidation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MHC houses risk demolition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Shareholders, Airtel tussle in court

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MLS wants APM, Muhara property seized

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Industrial disputes choke IRC

    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.