Malawians have had enough of tantrums of Malawi’s only netball export Mwawi Kumwenda and the Netball Association of Malawi.
As sports writers we needed to devote much of our energy writing about the Flames and its exploits in the Africa Nations Cup after Fam announced that it wanted to hire an expatriate coach.
I needed to disagree with that decision because as a nation we do not have abundant resources to pay an expatriate coach about US$30,000 per month. After all, our Africa Nations Cup campaign was botched up by those two gentlemen after they lost the home game 1-2 to Zimbabwe. It will take a lot of hard work to overturn the tables.
Instead of cracking our brains on how we can help care-taker coach Ernest Mtawali and his assistant Gerald Phiri transforming the team that was battered and bruised by Young Chimodzi, Mwawi’s family wants to distract our attention from the real issues by resurrecting a forgotten issue which we all believed was sorted out long time ago. After all, we were told that the player was invited to participate in the recent Diamond Challenge in South Africa but failed due to club commitments.
Let Malawi Queens coach, Peace Chawinga, the one who sharpened the skills of this netball genius, start developing locally-based talents like the Joyce Mvulas to match Mwawi’s status.
It is a sheer waste of time and resources to continue discussing the same issue for years. Mwawi is a professional player and I believe she has the acumen of handling her problems. But when the family starts interfering in these affairs then it creates a problem.
It is a weakness on the part of Nam to bow down to the pressure of Mwawi’s family to withdraw the warning letter it gave the player. This is unheard of and should not be entertained at all cost.
Enough is enough. Life has to go on with or without Mwawi. As a nation we cannot be on standstill dancing to the tune of Mwawi and his family.
Some players are so overwhelmed with their success, but you and I know that no one is bigger than Malawi netball.
What I know is that the graveyards are full of people who thought they were indispensible.
Mark my word, one day Mwawi would need the blessings of Nam in her netball endevours and, knowing these powerful women who govern the game, they will, surely, have the last laugh.
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