Escom Sisters change name to Diamonds: Malawi netball champs
Escom Sisters players have changed the club’s name to Diamonds Netball Club after promoting Escom’s brand since 2010 when the sponsorship was terminated.
The players met at Blantyre Youth Centre in the absence of the executive committee and they agreed to change the name to Diamonds.
The club’s coach Griffin Saenda confirmed having been asked by the players to change the name to Diamonds.
“According to their [players] understanding they feel that they are promoting Escom when they don’t get anything in return for their sweat. It’s a pity that the players acted this way and we can’t restrain them because they are the ones who feel the pinch,” he said.
Saenda said he had communicated to the team’s executive about the developments.
The club’s General Secretary Chimwemwe Bakali declined to comment on the name change.
“As the executive we are not in a better position to comment. We are yet to summon the players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Diamonds alongside Bingu Tigresses and Blue Eagles Sisters have been billed as favourites to win the GOtv Netball Champions League sponsored by Multichoice Malawi.
The tournament is due to resume on Saturday after almost a four-week break as players from the participating teams were engaged with national duties in the Africa Netball Championship which Malawi hosted at Blantyre Youth Centre from July 24 -28.
GOtv Netball Champions League is worth K8 million and other teams in the competition are MTL Queens and Civonets.
So far, Escom (now Diamonds) are leading the log with 12 points from eight games and they are followed by Bingu Tigresses with 11 points.
On the third place is Blue Eagles Sisters who have amassed 10 points while MTL Queens are fourth with five points and Civonets are anchoring the table with two points.
Escom Sisters started as a social netball team under the banner of Yellow Sisters when it was sponsored by the former First Lady Patricia Shanil Muluzi.
It was changed to Escom Sisters after landing a lucrative sponsorship from Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (Escom) as the team’s former chairperson Mary Makunganya was also working for the parastatal body.
During the time Escom made history to have transacted the transfer deal involving Caroline Mtukule Ngwira from Bingu Tigresses at K600,000 four seasons ago.
It also produced Malawi’s first ever professional Mwawi Kumwenda to Australia’s Pensula Waves
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