By Bernard Mhone:
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has cautioned netballers in the country to avoid early pregnancies, saying this affects the transition of players from clubs to the senior national team, the Queens.
Nam said most of Queens’ players are aged, hence the need for fresh blood.
Speaking during the Northern Presidential Initiative on Sports regional finals held in Mzuzu over the weekend, Nam Vice-General Secretary, Brian Gausi, expressed dismay over prevalence of pregnancies among netballers, saying they affect performance.
“It is our plea to you, our netballers; please, let us avoid getting pregnant anyhow because your performance declines after you have gone on maternity leave. Look at our national team; it needs new blood because most of them are now over-aged. This greatly affects our transition,” Gausi said.
In a separate interview, one of the players, Abigail Nyasulu for Karonga Queens concurred with Gausi, saying their form declines after falling pregnant.
“It is really true because if you are an expectant, you cannot play in those nine months. And when you add the time you spend nursing a child, most of the times one retires from netball. Once you give birth, it is difficult to reclaim your form,” Nyasulu said.
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