The number of Malawian netballers in foreign leagues has declined from four to three after Netball Superleague side in the United Kingdom (UK), Team Bath, did not renew the contract for goal-defender Caroline Mtukule.
The development comes after Malawi’s first netball export Mwawi Kumwenda extended her stay at Australian Netball Championship side Melbourne Vixens.
Malawi Queens shooter Joyce Mvula has returned to the UK, where she has joined Leeds Rhinos after ending a year-long stint at Central Pulse in New Zealand.
Compatriot Towera Vinkhumbo received a timely boost when UK Netball Superleague side Strathclyde Sirens signed her for the 2024 season.
Analysts have since warned that Malawi National Netball Team’s performance would be affected when they face opponents with more foreign country-based players.
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Netball analyst Israellah Chirwa feared for Malawi Queens’ performance at international tournaments.
“I think the overall performance of our national team has contributed to dropped statistics. Our teams lack coordination due to factors such as poor preparation, lack of financial support, just to mention a few
“So if you are to see these factors, they really affect the performance of the team, making it harder for individuals to prove their capabilities, hence foreign teams fail to recognise our talent,” the Mubas player said.
Another analyst Desire Kambewa asked Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) to concentrate on exposing raw talent at international level.
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“Foreign teams use international tournaments to scout players. For instance, Mwawi was scouted during the World Youth Championship in Cook Islands. All the players that earned deals with international teams were poached during international games.
“As such, Nam must plan and convince stakeholders to fund activities for national senior and junior teams to continuously participate in international competitions,” Kambewa said.
Another analyst Lusekelo Kayuni said increasing the number of netball players from Malawi competing outside the country involves a combination of strategic planning, development initiatives and support systems.
“This includes facilitating participation in international tournaments to expose Malawian players to different playing styles and higher levels of competition.
“Nam must also establish partnerships with netball associations from other countries to organise exchange programmes and friendlies with teams such as South Africa,” Kayuni said.
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala said the association will endeavour to send the Queens to more international tournaments.
“We, as an association, really do not have much control over foreign teams’ selection of our players to play professional netball. The best we always do is to ensure that we expose our players to more international games, where player scouts are looking for talent. We, therefore, arrange a number of international test series just to expose talent,” Chimwala said.
