Griffin Saenda the legend in Malawi netball: Coach par excellency

His team has swept all the competitions played in the year 2016. He guided the Queens to their first ever third place finish at this year’s Fast Five World netball series championship. Griffin “Zagalo” Saenda deserve a special recognition. That’s what goes around in the minds of those who keenly follows netball in the country.

Perhaps others believe he is the godfather of netball in the country especially having been in the game for over 2 decades now. While some says so, some believe Saenda deserve a statue at the Blantyre Youth Centre as a special recognition to his achievements.

“The problem with our country is that we remember a person when he is dead. Griffin is one such of a person who has contributed greatly to our netball. We talk of Mwai Kumwenda today because of this old man who nurtured her talent to be where she is. What else do we need from a man who guided our Queens to their first ever best finish at the Fast 5? He deserves special recognition,” said one of the netball fan in Lilongwe.

While some believe Saenda deserve such recognition, others believe it’s time for the Netball Association of Malawi to identify those who could understudy him  as he is ageing.

“NAM should take advantage of his availability to nurture future Coaches. The problem with NAM is that they do everything on short term measures. They (NAM) should engage him in coaching clinics so that we can have another future Saenda. I think we need a statue of Saenda at Blantyre Youth Centre,” said another netball family based in Blantyre.

Saenda’s Kukoma Diamonds have won all the major competitions played in the year 2016 including the recently held Presidential netball championship.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s innovations awards this Friday, some have tipped  Saenda to win the sports award category having guided the Queens to their best ever finish at the Fast 5 world netball championship in Australia.

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