Malawi Under-21 National Netball Team Coach Noel Mussa has named a 12-member squad for the Netball World Youth Cup scheduled for Gibraltar from September 19 to 28 this year.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) announced names of those who have made the squad on Tuesday.
The team is expected to leave Malawi for Gibraltar on Monday next week.
Mussa has included Aisha Gama, Chimwemwe Dzanja, Melia Soko, Stella Matelezi, Ida Mhone, Adidya Juma and Getrude Makunganya.
Idesi Zachaliah, Esther Phiri, Sophilet Banda and Alinafe Chaima are also in the squad.
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Mussa said the girls were determined to make Malawi proud. “We are going there to compete. We have prepared well and are ready for any team,” he said.
The junior Queens are expected to face Jamaica and Singapore in friendly matches ahead of the competition.
Malawi were also expected to face England but The Roses Pathway pulled out from the friendly match.
The team is in Group D alongside Fiji, South Africa, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
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Group A comprises New Zealand, Gibraltar, Malaysia, Zambia and Cook Islands whereas Group B has Australia, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore and Northern Ireland.
Group C comprises England, Jamaica, Tonga, Wales and Sri Lanka
Meanwhile, Nam General Secretary Yamikani Kauma has hailed the government and sponsors Mukuru for supporting the team’s trip to Gibraltar.
“We thank the government and Mukuru for the overwhelming and timely support,” Kauma said.
Netball analyst Chimwemwe Bakali, who is also former Nam general secretary, said the junior Queens could pull a surprise. “It is not going to be easy for Malawi as teams such as England, Australia, Jamaica and South Africa are favourites. But Malawi are not pushovers. The team performed well against Zambia recently,” he said.
The junior Queens played three test series matches against Zambia and won all the matches. They defeated Zambia 48-36 in the first match before registering another 44-31 victory. Malawi wrapped up the friendlies with a 36-29 victory.
The team last participated in the Netball World Youth Cup in Cook Islands in 2009.
