With Grace we are destined for doom

Tom Sangala June 27, 2015

446 1 minute read

News that Malawi Queens participation at the 2015 Africa Netball Championship in Botswana hangs in balance is disturbing. The tournament was expected to throw off tomorrow up to July 3.

Queens being the runners-up in the competition and the Number One team in Africa needed to participate at the tournament at all cost.

The Queens could have used these games to prepare for the World Cup to be staged in Australia in August. It is sad that the Queens will miss this rare opportunity to sharpen their skills.

To me this did not come as a surprise because in Malawi we always have problems with preparations. We like operating in a crisis.

All along both Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) and the government knew about this calendar of events and it is surprising that they did not want to prepare. Just because Airtel committed itself to sponsor the team, government has folded its arms and thinks that Airtel will do everything which is a sick mentality.

Sports have the minister, who apparently in my opinion has done nothing since she came on stage a year ago. She talks too much with little output.

Since Grace Chiumia took over the mantle, she has failed to convince government to sufficiently fund sporting disciplines like football and netball, our sources of pride and identity.

It is during her tenure that Football Association of Malawi has single handedly funded the activities of the Flames.

It is during her tenure that Malawi Queens will also fail to participate in Africa Netball Championship. Apparently there is no explanation coming from her ministry.

Chiumia must be told in no uncertain terms that it is the duty of the government to fund national teams, whether it is football, netball, boxing or hockey. Chiumia’s ministry has had a lot of humiliation and it is time to win a little respect by appointing someone who can convince the Treasury of the importance of sports to the country.

Chiumia must reorganise her approach, change her mentality and must start believing in herself. It is time to be serious with sports madam minister.

Queen’s failure to participate in Africa Netball Championship is a big embarrassment to the minister who equates herself to great political icons like USA President Barack Obama.

It is my belief that a long term outlook, in technically competent hands will always win through in the end. Otherwise Malawi sports is destined for doom with ministers like Chiumia at the helm.