Malawi Queens training camp cancelled: Mwawi’s return doubtful

Controversy continues to rock Netball Association of Malawi ( NAM) will never seize to  amaze Malawians following  Wednesdays  drama, when they called  Malawi Queens players to converge at Blantyre Youth Centre to enter trainings camp in readiness for the forthcoming World Netball Championship scheduled to take place in Australia, only to change their decision at the eleventh hour.

The players, who brought their belongings arrived BYC around 4:00 pm waiting for a bus to pick them up to their lodge. But after waiting for three hours, the players were surprised to be told
that they should return back to their homes, as there was a slight change.

Some of the players told Nyasa Times that they were ill-treated.

“These people take us for granted. This really shows that our officials do not know what they
are doing and what they want,” said one player who asked not be mentioned, saying “they will suspend me.”

“ We were forced to go back home late evening using public transport. They gave us transport to board min-buses as if we went there to do personal things,” she said.

Another player said they were told they will go into camp Friday.

Meanwhile, Nam President Rose Chinunda was quoted in the local press that the Queens will participate in the 2015 edition of the Netball World Cup- scheduled to kick-off on August 7 to 16 in Sydney, Australia without any friendly match.

Chinunda said the Government of Malawi, who are the major sponsors of the Queens, do not have extra funding for the team.

“I don’t think we will have an opportunity to play any friendly due to lack of funds. At the moment, we do not have much resource to spend on friendly games and international tournaments,” said Chinunda.

According to the NAM president, the team’s participation at the World Netball Championship will cost about K100 million.

On another note, Malawi’s sole netball export Mwawi Kumwenda’s saga with Nam has resurfaced, with Kumwenda’s family insisting that the association entirely withdraws its warning letter over her alleged indiscipline or else the player will not take part in the World Cup Tournament.

Kumwenda arrived in the country on Wednesday through Kamuzu International Airport.

Her manager, Hlupikire Chilamba said as long as NAM does not address the concerns that were raised by the family, she will not return to the Queens.