Malawi National Netball Team has been handed a severe blow following revelations that the Queens will not take part in African Netball Championship expected to throw-off in Gaborone, Botswana on Tuesday, Times Sport has learnt.
Officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports confided with Times Sport that the Queens will not get funding for this championship and instead the senior side will compete in Diamond Challenge in South Africa in January.
“During a recent meeting it was resolved that the Queens should not take part in African Netball Championship. The decision is yet to be communicated to Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) officials,” the source said.
The source added that funds intended for the championship will go towards the senior side’s participation at Africa Netball Championship.
However, both Ministry of Sports spokesperson Macmillan Mwale and Malawi National Council of Sports Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa could not be reached to comment.
- Advertisement -
Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala said they are still in the dark regarding the Queens’ participation in continental showpiece.
“From the look of things, we will not go. We would have loved, if the ministry or council came in the open to clarify their position. Otherwise, it makes sense not to go as the team hardly prepared. We should indeed concentrate on Diamond Challenge to prepare and perform better,” Chimwala said.
Following the development, the Queens will join rivals South Africa and Uganda, who will also miss the tournament.
Ironically, the Queens finished at the bottom of the six-member Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand.
