Malawi Queens date England
Malawi netball Queens face a daunting task against England in Friday’s pool B opener of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia.
England’s Roses defeated Malawi twice during the Vitality Netball International Series last year in England.
During the series, the Roses, who are ranked third in the world, beat sixth-positioned Malawi 66- 60 and 62-60.
Malawi’s 61-40 win against Barbados in a strength-testing match on Wednesday gives the White Mulilima-technical panel hope for good results at the Games.
Malawi will use the experience they gained from the Taini Jameson Netball Tournament, where they beat Fiji twice in New Zealand. But the Queens also lost to New Zealand and Jamaica at the warm up event.
The Queens are likely to change their starting line-up, with Carol Mtukule-Ngwira and Bridget Kumwenda-Chalera paving the way for Takondwa Lwazi and Sindi Simtowe- Msowoya, respectively.
Malawi Physical Fitness Trainer, Griffin Saenda Junior, said players were ready to face England.
“The players are looking relaxed and calm. We are ready to fight for a win. We will die for our country. We only ask people back home to put us in their prayers,” Saenda said.
The Queens face Uganda tomorrow before playing against New Zealand on Monday.
England Coach, Tracey Neville, might throw into action players such as Captain Ama Agbeze, Rachel Dunn, Geva Mentor, Ebon Beckford- Chambers and Jo Harten.
The netballers will represent Malawi at the Commonwealth Games alongside eight runners.
Queens’ probable line-up: Laureen Ngwira, Vinkhumbo- Nyirenda, Joana Kachilika, Takondwa Lwazi, Thandie Galeta, Simtowe-Msowoya, Kumwenda.
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