Malawi need K200 million for Australia trip
Malawi National Netball Team needs about K200 million to take part in the PacificAus Sports Netball Series next month.
Netball Association of Malawi Vice President Chimwemwe Bakali said they have lined up several fundraising activities to help them realise the amount.
“The amount is for air tickets, food and accommodation in Australia. We have lined up a number of fundraising activities to help us make the trip. We will soon come out in the open with whatever we want to do. All we are asking for is support from well-wishers.
“This is a ranking tournament and we will lose out in various aspects if we do not go there. The team that is just a step below us on the rankings, Tonga, will be at the event and our failure to go there will put our sixth position in great danger,” Bakali said.
He described the series as a great opportunity to help the team prepare well for the Netball World Cup scheduled for Cape Town, South Africa, in July.
The series will feature eight teams in its third edition scheduled for Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Australia from 24 to 29 April, with the opening ceremony taking place on April 23.
The Queens will be at the competition for the first time alongside fellow newcomers Kenya and Zambia.
The three African teams will be up against the competition’s returning teams of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore and dual-series champions Tonga.
According to a press statement released by Netball Australia Wednesday, the series falls under the PacificAus Sports programme funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“The series highlights the skills, talent and athleticism of Pacific netball athletes and aims to provide high-level competition for the national teams of Netball Australia’s PacificAus Sports partners. The inclusion of the three African nations provides an opportunity for Pacific partner countries to improve their performance through exposure to teams rarely competed against.
“In a benchmark year for netball with the Netball World Cup and Commonwealth Youth Games, as well as the Netball World Youth Cup in 2025, greater diversity of teams in events such as the PacificAus Sports Netball Series aim to improve netball’s international standards,” the statement reads.
Netball Australia Executive General Manager of Strategy, Government and Community, Glenn Turnor, welcomed the event’s return.
“The PacificAus Sports Netball Series has solidified its place in the Netball Australia calendar and we are thrilled to see it continue to grow in 2023. With the largest number of teams competing yet, we expect competition on the Gold Coast to be elevated, showcasing the development of our international contenders and the strength of our relationship with Pacific neighbours,” Turnor said.
