Blue Eagles centre court player Takondwa Lwazi has been recalled to the Malawi National Netball Team, a year after she announced her retirement from the senior side.
Lwazi is among 27 players who have been called into the Queens camp in readiness for the Africa Netball Cup in Namibia to run from December 9 to 14 2024.
The seasoned attacker retired from the Queens after the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa, where the Queens finished on position seven, but she was still available for her club.
However, Lwazi was unreachable to comment Monday but Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) President Vitumbiko Mwandemange-Gubuduza insisted that they held successful discussions with Lwazi to coax her back from retirement.
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The squad has several new faces including Eagles’ sensational new goal shooter Nancy Njawala, who played a crucial role in guiding the police netball side to defend the Salima Sugar National Netball Cup after beating First Choice Tigresses 42- 36 in the final and Kukoma Diamonds 37-31 in the semifinals.
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Experienced goal defender Grace Mwafulirwa has been recalled into the team, having been overlooked in the squad for the Spar International Challenge Test Series.
Joint coaches Mary Waya and Peace Chawinga- Kaluwa, together with other selectors, have dropped Shira Kapasula Dimba and Jessica Mazengera-Sanudi.
Rising youthful shooter Stella Matelezi has been overlooked in the squad, which has a fair representation of experienced players such as Towera Vinkhumbo, Thandie Galeta, Martha Dambo and Bridget Kumwenda.
The squad consists of other players who are yet to grab a regular place at the national team and they include Tendai Masamba, Shabel Bengo, Aisha Gama, Flora Chipeta and Florence Gamuka.
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Chawinga-Kaluwa said they selected the squad together with her co-coach and national team selectors.
“We do have selection criteria, which are always put in place and are used. These criteria are aligned with the strategies and plans that we have and expected technical skills required for netball at an elevated performance level. So the selection was done using the said criteria,” she said.
Nam released the 27-member squad Monday.
It made the announcement in a statement which was signed by the association’s general secretary Yamikani Khungwa-Kauma.
“The Malawi Queens will therefore travel to Namibia on 5th December 2024 and travel back on 15th December 2024. The Malawi Queens Technical Team and the selection committee were observing performance of the players during the just-ended Salima Sugar Netball Competition for shortlisting. The team is therefore expected to be in camp in Lilongwe from Tuesday [today], 26th November 2024 until the date of travel,” the statement reads.
The following is the full squad:
Defenders: Shabel Bengo, Martha Dambo, Chifuniro Moses, Young Eagles, Towera Vinkhumbo, Aisha Gama, Mphatso Kanyimbo, Grace Mwafulirwa, Thoko Makunganya and Ella Dafter.
Attackers: Florence Gamuka, Takondwa Lwazi, Lusako Mhango, Beatrice Kumwenda, Bridget Kumwenda, Flora Chipeta, Thandie Galeta, Mestina Mtete and Molly Chisambiro.
Shooters: Lellie Banda, Ethel Ng’ambi, Tendai Masamba, Nancy Njawala, Florence Jeke, Tinkhani Ndlovu, Patricia Moyo, Jullie Kamwera and Cynthia Khunga.
Head coaches: Mary Waya and Peace Chawinga.
