Queens to use Cosana air tickets for overseas friendly

Malawi Queens will just need additional funds to make an overseas trip to either England or Jamaica for friendly games ahead of the Top Six Series Championships in New Zealand this October.

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda said on Wednesday that they had already bought K8.9 million (about $35 600) worth of return air tickets via South Africa on their way to Swaziland for the recent Cosana Championships before the event was cancelled.

“We expected the Cosana event to prepare us for the Top Six Series Championships, but its cancellation was a big blow to us. We would, therefore, like to arrange a friendly game against either England or Jamaica before we proceed to New Zealand.

“Chances of having such a friendly game finalised are high since we already have in our hands the return air tickets to South Africa and we will just need some top-up funds to make an overseas trip possible,” said Chinunda.

She said they are likely to play Jamaica in the friendly as they previously agreed for such an encounter which failed to materialise. Then, Jamaica offered to accommodate the Queens.

“Since Jamaica is closer to New Zealand, where the Top Six Series will take place, we will cut costs as we will combine the trip. We will travel to Jamaica before proceeding to New Zealand.”

Recently, Malawi also courted Australia for another friendly, but the event fell through because the Australians were playing South Africa.

Queens are ranked number five in the world whereas England and Jamaica are third and fourth respectively.