Mwawi Kumwenda gets started
Malawi netball icon Mwawi Kumwenda’s pre-season is on course after recently helping her Australia Suncorp Super Netball League team Melbourne Vixens to two wins from four shortened matches in a preparatory tournament called Team Girls Cup.
Kumwenda described the tournament as a team-building event, with all players taking part.
“The Team Girls Cup was great. We were building our team and it was great for us to use the games in preparation for next season. The team played very well and all players took part but we finished third. We can only hope for the best during the coming games,” she said.
Vixens started with a 47-40 win over Giants Netball where Kumwenda had a run out in attack to see her team push the margin out in the last term, claiming a seven-goal win.
This was followed by a 33- 34 loss to Thunderbirds where Kumwenda’s strength was not good enough to secure victory.
“Austin’s centre third defensive efforts and connection with a strong Kumwenda under the post were on display early, while Eddy and Mannix worked hard on transition,” a report on Vixens’ website reads.
The former Kukoma Diamonds superstar was an anchor and held strong under the post from the first whistle in the third match but her efforts also failed to carry the day for Vixens, who went down 43-40 to Firebirds.
This was despite the immediate impact of Kierra Austin and Kumwenda swapping positions in the third quarter.
In the fourth match, Kumwenda came on in the third quarter to inspire Vixens to a narrow 38-39 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Queens superstar settled her team’s attack end and delivered a strong connection with Austin.
“While we had our chances, we struggled to capitalise until Austin and Kumwenda swapped positions from a time out, which provided a shift,” the report reads.
According to supernetball.com.au, Kumwenda also had a blinder of a match during the Lightning victory after converting 22 shots out of 25.
