Specialised training for Joyce Mvula
By Mphatso Malidadi:
Manchester Thunder and Malawi national netball team shooter, Joyce Mvula, will undergo specialised training for this year’s Netball World Cup as she recovers from a knee injury.
Mvula will be out of action for six weeks on doctors’ recommendations after sustaining the injury on Saturday when she led Thunder to Vitality Superleague championship with a 57- 52 victory over Wasps.
The shooter underwent a scan in England on Tuesday and would not return to Malawi immediately as her team wants to help speed up her recovery with better medical care.
Mvula said she would remain in Manchester and train under the guidance of experts so that she does not miss the global event.
“I have to stay away from competitive netball and other activities for six weeks. I pulled muscles close to my knee and I need to recover quickly so that I do not miss the World Cup. My team officials have instructed me to remain here, where I can get better treatment,” she said.
But the former Blue Eagles Sisters shooter remains hopeful that she would regain her fitness in time for the World Cup set for Liverpool, England, from July 12 to 21.
“This is why my team wants me to get treated here [in Manchester] so that I should recover quickly. I will be undergoing specialised training under the guidance of experts. It means my colleagues [Queens players] will get me here before the World Cup,” she said.
Netball Association of Malawi General Secretary, Carol Bapu, said they were monitoring Mvula’s situation.
“Joyce is our player and it is good that she has been on top of her game in England. We need her to be part of our World Cup team. We need more players competing in top leagues for our game to develop. This would also help in improving the performance of our national team,” Bapu said.
Missing Mvula’s services would be a heavy blow to the Queens, who are likely to miss the services of icon Mwawi Kumwenda, who plies her trade in Australia with Melbourne Vixens, as she is also recovering from injury.
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