Coach Griffin Saenda has gone for continuity in his 12-member squad that travels to the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) Senior Championship in Swaziland.
The Queens leave on Friday for Mbabane to defend the Cosana gold they won in South Africa in 2010, Saenda confirmed on Wednesday before morning training session at the Blantyre Youth Centre.
“I would say we have 95 percent chances of winning the cup. It is ours. We have to do whatever it takes, even if it means dying on the court, to retain it,” said Saenda.
“We have worked on coordination and other areas, but the focus in the last days of training was on how to make the most on South Africa’s weakness and how to deal with their strengths.”
The only notable absentee is Grace Mwafulirwa who has been stripped of the captaincy for shunning a call-up for unknown reasons. Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira is the new captain.
Fresh from last month’s Diamond Netball Challenge in South Africa, the Queens will also certainly square up against the Spar Proteas in Swaziland. The Queens lost 47-43 to South Africa in the Diamond Challenge final.
In 2010, Malawi lost to South Africa in the first leg of the preliminaries before winning the reverse fixture to lift the Cosana cup.
The travelling Queens squad is as follows: Defenders: Caroline Mtukule Ngwira, Towera Vinkhumbo (Escom Sisters); Joanna Kachilika (MTL Queens); Lorraine Ngwira (Bingu Tigresses); Merenia Gideon (Mafco). Centre court players: Bridget Kumwenda, Thandiwe Galeta (MTL Queens), Tina Kamzati (Civonets) and Beatrice Kadango (Bingu Tigresses); Attackers: Sindi Simtowe (Bingu Tigresses), Mwawi Kumwenda (Peninsula Waves, Australia), Joyce Mvula (Blue Eagles Sisters).
