Malawi National Netball Team has been put in a tight spot ahead of the Africa Netball Championship, which is expected to throw-off in Gaborone, Botswana on November 26.
The Queens, who endured a bad outing after anchoring the six-member Fast5 Netball World Series, should brace for another poor showing as the team is yet to go into camp to prepare for the continental showpiece.
Currently, Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) is waiting for K123 million funding from the government to take part in the championship. Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa could not guarantee if the Queens will receive funding for the trip.
“We presented Nam’s budget to the Treasury for funding but we are yet to get a response. Hopefully, we should have feedback very soon,” Ntulumbwa said.
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala could not comment as he was attending Africa Netball, zoom meeting.
- Advertisement -
“I will respond once I am through with this meeting because we are discussing issues to do with the tournament,” he said.
The development comes after the Queens finished at the bottom of six-member Fast5 Netball World Series when they lost six consecutive games at the Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch in New Zealand.
It was a bad outing for the Queens, who did not qualify for last year’s Fast5 Netball World Series showpiece as they were ranked seventh, which is one place above the required rating.
After an awful opening day, when they lost to New Zealand 42-13, Jamaica 41- 37 and England 41-30, the Queens’ misery continued the following day when they lost three more games.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
The Queens lost to eventual champions Australia 42- 24 before going down to continental rivals South Africa 37-31. In position five/six play-off, the Queens lost to Jamaica again 36-31.
Meanwhile, netball pundit Neffie Kam’mata said the Queens should brace for another poor outing.
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Maybe we can beat some lowly ranked side but to claim the championship it will be like building castle in the air. We need to be serious in terms of preparing,” Kam’mata said.
