Malawi National Netball Team has finished at the bottom of the six-member Fast5 Netball World Series after losing six consecutive matches at the Wolf brook Arena, Christchurch, in New Zealand.
The two-day tournament ended Sunday, with Australia winning the championship after defeating rivals and hosts New Zealand in the final.
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 on Sunday when they lost three more matches.
The Queens lost to eventual champions Australia 42-24 before going down to continental rivals South Africa 37-31.
In a position five/six play-off, the Queens lost to Jamaica again 36-31.
Australia emerged champions while the hosts, New Zealand, settled for silver, with England claiming bronze.
South Africa finished fourth, above fifth-placed Jamaica and bottom-placed Malawi.
The only consolation was when Towera Vinkhumbo was named player of the match in the Queens’ downfall to South Africa.
Netball Association of Malawi Technical Director Samuel Kanyenda bemoaned the absence of key players and “other underlying factors” for the team’s dismal performance.
“Changes in the team are inevitable and painful. It is not easy to find replacements. It is a process that we have to undergo. Nevertheless, the players put up a spirited performance. We need to give these players enough game time,” he said after shooter Mwawi Kumwenda opted out to give youngsters a chance while centre Takondwa Lwazi and shooter Jane Chimaliro retired.
