After a long wait, Malawi Under-21 National Netball Team will go into camp today ahead of the Africa Youth Championship set for Botswana from July 23 to 30.
No player from the top netball sides has made it into the 25-member squad, which will be training at Blantyre Youth Centre.
There were serious concerns on whether the Under-21 would take part in the competition, which will be used to qualify for the World Youth Cup.
The squad comprises players such as rising goal-attacker Ethel Ng’ambi of Prison Sisters and Alliance Capital Stars shooter Tendai Masamba.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) released the squad yesterday after appointing Mary Waya as the head coach with Whyte Mulilima as her assistant.
Waya was not readily available for a comment, but Mulilima said they were yet to plan on how best to approach the camping session.
“We are racing against time and we need to come up with our training programme and how to make the most of it,” he said.
Nam General Secretary, Carol Bapu, was confident that they will secure funding from government for the team’s trip to Botswana.
“We are taking each step at a time. The Queens are the pride of the nation and government has always been supportive when it comes to such issues,” she said.
Ironically, the Queens’ opponents started preparations last month.
Malawi’s main rivals, South Africa defeated Wales in three Test Series last week.
Full squad: Ethel Ng’ambi, Eliza Matenda, Chikondi Mbizi, Mtendere Manyozo, Rashina Thomson, Esther Sibale, Mervis Kayange, Eliza Chinthunzi, Rabecca Damiano, Tapiwa Mvula, Yamikani Davalasi, Emily Goodson, Tendai Masamba, Vedina Nsanza, Linda Nawasha, Sylvia Banda, Evelyn Kapichi, Tendeye Chitenje, Renata Dindani, Cynthia Khunga, Tamandani Zalewa, Maria Burton, Mervis Sunguma, Misozi Gondwe and Judith Chikooka.
Leave a Reply