Presidential Cup in national finals
Twelve netball outfits are set to battle for this year’s Presidential Netball Cup championship at Katoto Secondary School court in Mzuzu.
The three-day competition throws off today, with teams battling for the K4 million top prize.
Runners-up will get K2 million with the third-placed side pocketing K1.5 million.
The competition will feature eight seeded sides and four regional champions who qualified following their success at regional level.
Defending champions Kukoma Diamonds, Tigresses and Thunder Queens are representing the Southern Region with Blue Eagles Sisters, Civonets and Mafco Soldiers representing the Central Region.
The Northern Region has Mimosa and Lameck Queens.
The eight were joined by regional champions Serenity Stars (South), Moyale (North), Prison Sisters (East) and Boma Stars (Centre).
Diamonds assistant Coach, Noel Mussa, said his team is geared to defend the trophy.
“It will be tough because all the teams are gunning for the same title. So we do not expect to have an easy tournament,” Mussa said.
Tigresses Head Coach, Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa, said despite sailing in troubled waters financially, her team has the capability to lift the trophy.
Chawinga-Kaluwa’s Thunder Queens counterpart, Christina Mkwanda-Nsinji, said she has quality players that will do the job.
Perhaps it is Civonets who face an enormous task after clinching the GOtv Netball Champions League.
Now the Whyte Mulilima ladies have a chance to prove to the netball fraternity that their success in the GOtv tournament was not a fluke by impressing in the Presidential Cup.
However, Mulilima said the Presidential Cup is a different competition and his team needs to up the gear as other teams are also well-prepared.
Netball Association of Malawi General Secretary, Carol Bapu, said all measures are in place to ensure that this year’s competition is a success.
“We always aim at setting new standards every year. We believe players will give out their best to enhance their chances of earning a call-up ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games,” Bapu said
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