Malawi pulls out of Africa Netball Championship
Malawi has withdrawn from the Africa Netball Championship scheduled for next month in Botswana.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) President Rose Chinunda said competition would not have any bearing on the team’s position as it would be used as qualifier for next year’ world championship which the Queens have already qualified alongside South Africa.
The World Championship will be held from 9-15 August in Sydney Australia.
Chinunda said the association would instead focus on the friendly games the Queens against England in December and Jamaica in May next year.
“The Africa Netball Championship would be used to come up with two other teams to qualify for World Netball Championship which we have already qualified,” Chinunda said.
“With limited resources we decided not to participate because it would not have made any difference.”
Chinunda said although the competition would have given them an opportunity to play against more African teams the competition would not have been stiff with South Africa also opting out.
She said the association would use the GOtv Netball Championship as part of preparations for World Championship.
Malawi Queens finished on position five at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland after beating their continental rivals South on the fifth position play-offs.
The defeated Northern Ireland, St Lucia and hosts Scotland but lost to New Zealand and Jamaica to finish third in Pool A group.