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South Africa topple Queens

  • Malawi netball team drops to sixth position

It is over. The Queens’ reign as the number one netball team on the continent came to a heart-breaking end on Monday when they were toppled by South Africa’s Proteas.queens4

According to the latest International Netball Federation (INF) world rankings, the Queens have dropped one place to sixth in the world. On the  continent, the Queens are second to their bitter rivals, the Proteas.

The development comes just a few days before the World Netball Cup (WNC) rolls into life in Sydney, Australia and  the Queens will have to punch above their weight to reclaim their position.

The latest rankings include matches up to July 1, 2015.

“The ranking list relates to senior teams of member countries that are playing regular international test matches,” according to INF

The Queens’ slump was expected having suffered five consecutive losses to the Proteas, the latest being at the Diamonds Challenge Series in  South Africa in June.

However, against all odds, New Zealand-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda believes the Queens can reclaim their position and even break into the top four if they can give out something extra at the world showcase.

“It is attainable if we can play our lungs out starting with South Africa on Friday because that will be the most crucial game,” said Kumwenda in an   interview through WhatsApp.

Asked if she holds the key to the Queens’ chances of reclaiming their dominance over their continental rivals, the gangling Tactix player said: “It is not only about me, it’s about teamwork. If we give out our all then we can do it.”

However, for a side rocked  by internal fighting and shoddy preparations, it remains to be seen whether the Queens can be the surprise team and break into the world top-four ranking and even reclaim their fifth position.

The top four-ranked teams are Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica. n

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One Comment

  1. With the kind of government and economy we are having now… forget about succeeding in anything we do. Tizingolira basi

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