Thunder Queens step out of Mary Waya’s shadow
Sleeping netball giants, Thunder Queens, have finally woken up from their slumber after they finished third in the just-ended Presidential national netball trophy.
Thunder, formerly MTL Queens, have been failing to finish beyond top-four since 2009 during national competitions.
In previous national events, Thunder could only finish fourth or fifth.
However, in the absence of coach Mary Waya, who dumped the team for Alliance Capital Stars, Thunder defeated Civonets 44-38 in a third-placed match.
Ironically, Thunder started the race sluggishly when they lost to Civonets 29-24 in their opening game.
Later, they recovered to humiliate their former coach Waya by beating Alliance Capital Stars 35-24.
In the quarterfinals, Thunder pulled out a sensational victory when they booted out favourites, Blue Eagles Sisters, 40-37 on Friday.
Thunder also dominated individual awards categories after the team’s skipper Joanna Kachilika was named best defender while Thandie Galeta was voted best centre.
Civonets centre Rose Mkanda was named Player of the Tournament while Alinafe Kamwala of Kukoma Diamonds was selected best shooter.
Thunder team manager, Annie Kapatuka, was an epitome of modesty after she refused to dwell on Waya’s departure as the motivating factors.
“Let bygones be bygones. We are in a new era, we don’t dwell in the past,” she said.
The former Malawi Queens defence pillar said they owed their success to team-work and Kips Restaurant’s support.
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