Malawi National Netball Team Coach Joanna Kachilika and her bosses Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) have appealed for patience as the team begins a rebuilding exercise.
Kachilika has picked a 15-member squad ahead of the Spar International Netball Challenge Test Series against South Africa with three matches slated for October 31, November 2 and 3 at Ellis Park Arena, in Johannesburg.
The coach has maintained six senior players including captain Towera Vinkhumbo, Thandie Galeta, Jessica Sanudi, Martha Dambo, Bridget Kumwenda and Shira Dimba.
Youthful players who have been part of the Queens’ set up in recent years Tendai Masamba, Stella Matelezi and Shabel Bengo are also in the squad.
Other youthful players in the team are Beatrice Kumwenda, Alice Mvula, Esther Phiri, Aisha Gama, Ethel Ng’ambi and Florence Gamuka.
Kachilika said the focus was on rebuilding the team and not immediate results.
“Our players were good. All the players we called showed for the camp. We were focussing on fitness, tactics and combination. We want to play well. Even though we cannot promise that the performance will be good, it will be an improved performance from this team.
“Our expectations are not 100 percent results but we believe as a team we can do better and we promise that the performance will be good and we cannot give ourselves a limit. We have the capability of doing wonders,” Kachilika said.
She said her selection for the final squad was based on merit.
Nam Vice President Lumbani Mtonyo echoed the statements.
“Our expectations are very high and at the same time not very high as we cannot expect too much as we are rebuilding the team. You cannot change all the players in the squad at once. This is a transition process,” Mtonyo.
The Queens are stuck on position seven in the latest World Rankings.
