By Llywellenie Mpasa:
Prison Queens, Airforce Falcons and Genius Sisters have secured spots to represent the Eastern Region at the national finals of the One Nico Top 12 Netball Cup after a two-day playoff held at Cobbe Barracks Court in Zomba.
The trio will join Southern Region giants Kukoma Diamonds, Tigresses and Blantyre Tremors, who made it through the Blantyre playoffs.
The competition now shifts to the Central and Northern regions, where top teams will vie for the remaining slots ahead of the national showdown, slated for next month in Lilongwe.
Prison Queens booked their place in commanding fashion, defeating Airforce Falcons 51- 47 in a tightly contested final to claim the Eastern Region title and bag a K1 million prize.
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Genius Sisters clinched the third and final spot after edging Malawi Maritime Force (MMF) Marine Queens 33-30 in the third-place playoff.
Speaking after the finals, Prison Queens Coach Chisomo Kantuliro attributed their victory to discipline and teamwork.
“It was a tough match but the girls stayed focused and fought until the final whistle. We were trailing in the first and second quarter, but the girls showed resilience. I am proud of how they handled the pressure,” he said.
His counterpart, Airforce Falcons Coach Besten Zanda, also praised his team despite falling short in the final.
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“We gave it our all and I am proud of the girls. They played their hearts out. Qualifying for the national event is a big achievement and we will go back, work on our weaknesses and come back stronger in Lilongwe,” he said.
Nico Holdings Corporate Affairs Manager Mbumba Mlia Ndasauka said she was satisfied with the level of competition and talent showcased during the playoffs.
“This has, indeed, been a successful activity and I believe that, at the end of this tournament, we will be able to pick a few ladies that can be trained further for the national team,” she said
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) President Vitumbiko Gubuduza described the tournament as a timely intervention in efforts to revitalise netball in the country.
“The tournament gives upcoming players the platform and exposure we never had when we were starting out,” she said.
The One Nico Top 12 Netball Cup is part of a K1 billion sponsorship package from Nico Group spread over three years, with K60 million allocated to this year’s tournament.
