Malawi Queens lose to Australia in friendly: Fired up ahead of Fast5
Malawi Queens lost their friendly encounter to the number one team in the World, Australia by 37 baskets to 43 on Monday night but assistant coach Samuel Kanyenda remains upbeat that the squad is ready to cause upsets in the Fast5 Series to kick-off on November 9, 2012 in Auckland, Australia.
The Queens, who are African champions, gave the Diamonds a run despite losing the match.
According to Kanyenda, the Queens tied with the Diamonds in the first quarter 6-6 before the Africa champions came up with new ideas in the second and third quarter.
Led by their Australian based evergreen shooter Mwai ‘Professor’ Kumwenda, the Queens pruned the Diamonds in the second quarter as they led by 14-11 baskets before another 24-15 victory in the third quarter.
Things turned sour for the Queens in the fourth quarter up to sixth, as Australia managed to keep the Queens on the tight rope.
In the fourth quarter, Australia led by 37-31 before wrapping up the game at 43-37 victory.
However, Kanyenda stressed that they did not want to expose themselves more to the Diamonds basing on the fact that the two out-fits will meet again in the competitive match.
“We played very well but knowing that we will face them again in a competition we did not want to expose ourselves to them because it could have been easy for them to plan for us,” he told Nyasa Times.
Kanyenda also said that in Monday’s friendly game, all the ten players who made it to the trip had a chance to play because the rules are different from conversional netball.
“ In Fast5 we use rolling substitutions, as such we gave a chance to each player to have a feel of the game,” he said.
He went on to urge Malawians to pray for them because they were ready to upset the table.
Some of the notable players, who Malawians are banking their hopes to upset the table in New Zealand are the duo of Mwawi ‘Professor’ Kumwenda and Sindi ‘Sniper’ Simutowe to lead the attacking department while Bridget ‘Engine room’ Kumwenda and Beatrice Kadango are expected to keep the centre tight.
Escom Sisters no nonsense Caroline ‘Ayuda’ Ngwira, Towera ‘Tobe’ Vinkhumbo, Joanna Kachilika, Thandiwe Magalet, Lauren Ngwira and Tina Kamzati are some of the players to watch.
Malawi Queens caused a major upset in 2010 Fast5 tourney, when they drew with Australia at the World Netball Series and continue to be one of the crowd favorites in netball’s new game.
According to IFNA, the top six netball teams like New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa will trade barbs in the competition.
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