Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has maintained the current coaching panel in the provisional squad which was submitted to World Netball on Wednesday.
Sources indicated that Nam had submitted a provisional squad comprising technical director Samuel Kanyenda, assistant coach Elenour Mapulanga and physical trainer Madano Tepetheya.
The development cast doubt on the return of coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa, who is at loggerheads with the association over contractual issues as the coach insists that she has a running contract with the association.
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala said the door has not been shut for Chawinga-Kaluwa.
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However, Chimwala could neither confirm nor deny that the association maintained the current coaching panel in its provisional squad, which will be confirmed later this month.
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“Currently, we have a provisional squad and we submitted the list, as required, to World Netball. The provisional squad will be announced later soon after all the vetting is done. I cannot say who is in the provisional squad because things might change.
“However, we are happy with how the coaching panel, with supervision from the TD, is working,” he said.
Ironically, top Nam officials and Chawinga- Kaluwa were summoned by the Malawi National Council of Sports [MNCS] to resolve contractual issues after the coach engaged lawyer David Kanyenda asking for an apology and reinstatement as Malawi Queens’ head coach.
Chimwala said the Nam executive, upon review and advice from stakeholders, will address the issue before the senior squad regroups on June 25.
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MNCS Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa said official communication regarding the row will be released in the course of this week.
Meanwhile, Kanyenda has said he is not in a position to comment, having been outside the country.
“I have to be in the office on Monday to find what is on the ground,” he said.
The 2023 Netball World Cup will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28 to August 6.
Sixth-ranked Queens were drawn in Group B alongside third-ranked England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th-ranked Barbados.
