Malawi National Netball Team High- Performance Consultant Debbie Fuller has intensified the team’s preparations for 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games by revealing that players will be given a special home-based training programme to follow.
This comes after the former Silver Ferns assistant coach trimmed the squad to 27 from 44 to enable her to focus on players who might make the squad for the Games scheduled to run from July 22 to August 2 2026.
Fuller said they had received data from Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) where the players were assessed hence the need to give them individual training routines.
“The testing data provided from Must have given us a clear line in the sand about where we are at and what we have got. We will work this week with the players to set them up for being in the best form for the trials in May, and to make sure they understand the responsibility of making that happen.
“Each will leave camp with a clear individual plan to make sure they give themselves the best chance to fly the Malawi flag in Glasgow,” she said.
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However, Fuller admitted that it was not easy to trim the squad to 27 to easily manage the squad.
“The hardest part of international netball is selection but we have to get the squad to a workable number so the time spent on the floor [court] is quality. The squad has actually been split into two squads, 27 make up the Malawi Queens squad for 2026 and in contention for the final 12 to travel to Glasgow.
“There is a group of about 12 that will make up Malawi Queens Development Squad which allows players who are not in U21 and U19 to remain with support to grow their game and keep improving. It is important that Malawi gets the most out of the netball talent available so having squads to aim for is important,” Fuller said.
Nevertheless, the coach expressed her excitement with the quality of players in camp.
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“I have been blown away by the players who have come into camp, they have a fighting spirit on court and a caring nature for each other off court, a special quality that is nurtured by the leadership” she said.
The current camp is expected to end on March 11.
Meanwhile, Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) General Secretary Yamikani Khungwa-Kauma said they were planning to arrange three friendlies for the Queens either against Uganda, Zimbabwe or Namibia.
“We need at least an international match against one of the three before the Commonwealth Games. It is our hope that government will support us,” she said.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of Sports Macmillan Mwale referred us to the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).
MNCS Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulubwa said they yet to be apprtoached.
