Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has attracted the wrath of Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) after the Malawi National Netball Team left for 2023 Fast5 Netball World Series without the government’s consent.
Council has since asked Nam to explain its stand after the Queens allegedly left the country without approval from the government.
“Council has just read in the papers that the Queens have gone to New Zealand without either council or government’s approval. As such, would you please clarify the following to council?
“Who approved the trip according to Sports Management Guidelines, as all trips by national teams must have prior approval? Who has led the team? Details of who has financed the trip including preparations,” reads the letter dated November 7 2023 and signed by MNCS acting Executive Secretary Shephord Boma.
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Boma refused to take questions and referred us to MNCS Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa, who confirmed the development.
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“It is true that we wrote Nam querying different issues. Issues to do with national teams need government’s consent in case of eventualities,” he said.
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala acknowledged having received the letter but said he needed to consult the association’s president on the matter.
“Let me talk to the president first and see how we can respond to them as regards the issue at hand,” he said.
However, Times Sport understands that Nam responded to council even though Ntulumbwa did not acknowledge receipt of the same.
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“Having received the invitation, the Netball Association of Malawi requested funding from council. Council responded by advising Nam to cut down on certain votes on the submitted budget while removing altogether certain budget lines. That was done and the budget was resubmitted to council for approval. By the time the team’s departure date had arrived, the budget had not yet been approved.
“On November 3 2023, Nam communicated to council of [sic] the team’s departure for New Zealand in a formal letter [attached] sent via email to Sports Council. The team left without a lead person. Fast5 games have been supported by New Zealand Netball,” Chimwala wrote in response to council’s query.
Nam is also yet to respond to the disciplinary issue that marred the team during the World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, following an infamous video clip.
The Queens anchored the six-team competition after losing all six games to bow out without a point
