Waya shuffles Queens
Malawi Queens coach Mary Waya has redeployed Complex Tigresses young defender Loreen Ngwira to partner shooter Sindi Simtowe in tomorrow’s Fast5 World Netball Championship opener against hosts New Zealand at the Vector Arena.
Waya wants to cope with the absence of star shooter Mwawi Kumwenda who opted against travelling to New Zealand, claiming she is visiting a doctor in South Africa. Other reports suggest Mwawi is out over unpaid game bonuses. Waya also dropped centre Beatrice Mpinganjira and defender Joanna Kachilika.
“The combination is good and even with Jane [Chimaliro] and Grace [Mwafulirwa]. This is good time for up-and-coming players to show their talent. The team is doing well and the morale is high. We are looking forward to the game positively and that each team is prepared and Malawi is prepared too for the games,” Waya explained on Wednesday.
The coach, for Africa’s number one and world’s fifth best side, has since challenged the rest of the players to step to the plate when playing three games tomorrow, including against England and Jamaica who are ranked third and fourth respectively. The six-member event also involves Australia (ranked second) and South Africa (sixth).
“It was a shock to hear that Kumwenda did not travel on this occasion and will not be standing strong in their circle. Waya indicated this was a competition to see the talented shooters that aspire to be Mwawi and in a cool and collected manner indicated they intended to impress,” reported Sky Sports website on Thursday.
The website further quoted the Queens captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira as saying her side are searching for a podium position for the dynamic and highly entertaining shortened version of the seven-a-side netball game. Malawi finished fifth in last year’s edition and lost 29-25 to Jamaica in a warm-up match on Wednesday.
“Keep your eye on Malawi’s Bridget Kumwenda who is a real emerging talent at centre. Not only have the Queens set their sights high on the court, but have indicated they will match the dancing prowess of the Fast5 Silver Ferns who showed us their moves in Auckland last year,” added the website.
The coaches and captains of all six teams were welcomed at an invitation only media event at KPMG in Auckland on Wednesday morning, reports www.mynetball.co.nz.
New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, who are without the tournament’s top shooter Maria Tutaia and captain Casey Kopua, have received a further blow following veteran shooter Irene van Dyk’s injury after straining her back in a training session on Wednesday, forcing the 42-year-old to withdraw from the tournament and delay her swansong.
FAST5 FAST FACTS
—There are five playing positions in each team whose playing areas are the same as in netball: Goal shooter, goal attack, centre, goal defence, goalkeeper.
—Games consist of four quarters of six minutes. Centre passes shall be taken by the team that did not score the last goal. Substitutions may be made at intervals or during play and there is no limit to the number that can be made.
—The super shot — worth three points — must be made from outside the goal circle. A two-point goal is scored with a shot deemed to have been made from the outer circle. While a one-point goal is shot from the inner circle.
—The scorers will indicate when a team is using its power play.
—During this quarter all goal points scored are doubled.
