Domestic netball has been thrown into confusion after Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) summoned legendary Mary Waya to a disciplinary hearing over two charges, Malawi News Sport has learnt.
Ironically, Nam reports to Waya, who is the Deputy Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports.
The former Malawi National Netball Team coach and player is also being accused of tipping the World Netball that the junior Queens featured overaged players [names withheld] at Netball World Youth Cup in South Africa.
“Claims you made in an article published on the BBC website, Sport Africa report that some male coaches demand sexual relationships with players to get them into the national team. Please refer to our letter to you dated January 17, 2024.
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“Claims you made to the Ministry of Youth and Malawi National Council of Sport Council during the just ended U21 Africa Qualifiers that Malawi had fielded overage players and that World Netball is investigating the matter,” the letter reads.
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As we went to press, Waya was scheduled to appear before a disciplinary hearing at Nam offices, located at Bingu National Stadium, in Lilongwe Friday.
However, sources indicated that Waya did not attend the hearing as Nam had jumped protocol after summoning a government official.
“What is happening is pure drama because Mary [Waya] is now a deputy director. If Nam had concerns they were supposed to use other channels than summoning their boss,” the source said.
Waya is being accused of making ‘callous’ remarks in her interview with the BBC during the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Waya could not be reached to comment while Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala was elusive over the matter.
“It is an internal matter,” Chimwala said.
Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said they have not been officially notified.
“Therefore, I cannot comment on something which we are not aware of. I need more time to consult,” Mwale said.
During her interview, Waya, was quoted by BBC Sport that women were pressured into relationships in the hope of securing selection.
She told the publication that female players are made to feel “insecure” by coaches.
“Most African teams have male coaches, so that’s the biggest challenge. You will find that when you go to the competition, to the changing rooms, you feel insecure because of these male coaches,” Waya told BBC Sport Africa.
Waya further told the publication that different gender dynamics between male and female coaches and players can cause problems.
“If they are female coaches, you feel safe because you have got a ‘mother’ near you. You know I am protected.
“With male coaches, we always look at them as our ‘fathers’ and then they easily tell us, ‘I’m not your father, if you want to go to the national team, you have to be my [girlfriend], so that you can be at the top of the team,” Waya said.
Meanwhile, netball pundit Neffie Kam’mata said some of the issues could best be tabled internally.
“It is unfortunate that this is happening. Let us hope that they all go back to their senses to solve the issue internally,” Kam’mata said.
