Queens yet to get Fast5 dues
Three months after they brought back Malawi netball glory after winning bronze at the Fast5 World Netball Series, the Queens have still not yet been paid their games bonuses and allowances.
The Queens defied the odds to finish third at the global showcase held in Melbourne in October last year, but for all their exploits, they appear to be waiting in vain for their dues.
One of the players confided in The Nation yesterday that in protest to the delay to get their dues from Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) through the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), they are still holding on to the national team kit.
“Our patience has worn very thin now. It is frustrating that up to now, we have still not been paid our dues. It is as if the authorities do not appreciate what we achieved and it is so frustrating.
“Had it not been for the [State] President and [former sponsors] Airtel Malawi, who gave us some money in appreciation for our achievement, we would have had nothing to show,” she said.
According to the player, they are each owed K89 000, translating to K890 000 for 10 players.
The Queens are entitled to K20 000 for a win each and for the three games they won [against South Africa, Jamaica and England], they were supposed to get K60 000 each.
“On top of that, we played a friendly match against South Africa which we won and we were supposed to get half the amount [K10 000]. They also owe us K18 000 each as training allowance,” she said.
NAM president Rosy Chinunda demanded to know the identity of the player as a condition for granting an interview.
But later on, she said NAM applied for the allowances from Sports Council “and if the money has not been released then it is not our problem. But anyway let me not comment on this.”
On his part, Sports Council executive secretary George Jana yesterday said NAM lodged the claim last Friday which is being looked into.
“They can be rest assured that they will get their dues,” he said. n
