Malawi national netball team centre, Takondwa Lwazi, has joined Manchester Thunder on a short term deal to star for the side during next month’s British Fast5 Netball All Stars.
She becomes the third Malawian to join the side after compatriots Joyce Mvula and Lauren Ngwira.
Mvula has been at Thunder for three seasons whereas Ngwira had stints with Team Northumbria and London Pulse. Ngwira joined Thunder last week.
Thunder Director of Netball, Karen Greig, told the club’s website that Lwazi would fit in the side.
“I am super excited to have her on board for Fast5. Having watched her play in recent years during the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Fast5 World Series, I am sure she will be a great fit for us for the competition. She is fast and often appears from nowhere on court while her connection with Joyce will be key to opening up defences,” Greig is quoted as saying.
Lwazi said she could not wait to play for Thunder.
“I cannot wait to come to the UK with Joyce and Lauren and join up with the Thunder squad to prepare for Fast5. It is going to be so exciting to team up with the Superleague Champions, play at the Copper Box in London and meet some of the amazing Thunder fans,” she told Thunder’s website.
Lwazi, known to friends and supporters as Bonzo, was influential in centre court for the Queens at the Netball World Cup this summer in Liverpool.
She has been part of the Queens’ squad for some time, including at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Eight teams from the Superleague will do battle in 12-minute matches, with Thunder looking to improve on disappointing finishes in the first two years of the event.
Netball Association of Malawi General Secretary, Carol Bapu, said Lwazi had reaped fruits of hard work.
“Everyone sees how hard Takondwa works. She is one of the national team’s most reliable players,” Bapu said.
