By Mphatso Malidadi
Malawi National Netball Team, The Queens, have received a timely boost ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games after telecommunications service provider, TNM plc, provided data bundles to help players train at home.
The Queens are expected to go into camp soon in readiness for Commonwealth Games but the players have been training at home, thanks to TNM’s support.
Through the arrangement, Queens coach Peace Chawinga- Kaluwa sends training instructions to the players to be followed at home and in turn they submit video clips of the session for evaluation.
TNM Head of Brand and Marketing Madalitso Jonazi said they were supporting The Queens, including officials, with data bundles for a period of six months.
“They [Netball Association of Malawi—Nam] approached us and we decided to support them. The issue is that the players are doing own trainings at times when not in camp in preparation for Commonwealth Games and they have to upload and download content for practices.
“So, Nam approached us to support them to make it easy for the players and officials and, being as a truly Malawian brand, we supported them,” Jonazi said but did not quantify the data provided to The Queens.
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala could not be reached but the association’s vice president Chimwemwe Bakali confirmed the development.
“I will be able to give you more details later. I am in a meeting,” he said.
Chawinga-Kaluwa said the arrangement was ideal as they were waiting for full-time camping.
“I give them [players] guidelines to follow and they submit footage. It is so easy now because TNM came to our rescue. All players and officials are given the data, which makes things easier for us to communicate, have meetings and evaluations. Videos of trainings are sent without problems,” she said.
Queens are in Group B alongside New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Northern Ireland and Uganda.
This year’s Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.
