Team Malawi leaves for Zone VI Youth Games in Zambia: ‘Expect medals’
Malawi’s Zone VI Youth Games team left the country on Tuesday night by road for Zambia to compete in this year’s Supreme Council for Sports Zone Six Games scheduled to kick-off on 8-17 December, 2012.
The 120 athletes left on three buses.
Malawi is sending seven sports disciplines that will represent the country in disciplines basketball, boxing, football, Judo, netball, tennis and swimming.
Development Sports Officer from Malawi National Council of Sports, who left with the team as their leader Ruth Mzengo said only one netball player for the Under-20 Lauren Ngwira would join her friends on December 7, 2012 as she was sitting for her Business Administration Examinations at Malawi College of Accountancy.
“All is set despite having some hiccups. We are taking 120 athletes from different sporting discipline, but only one has remained behind because she has exams to attend to and she is expecting to join us on the 7th December,” said Mzengo.
Netball
In netball, Malawi Under-20 coach Connis Mhone vowed to defend their title and bring back the trophy.
Mhone told Nyasa Times that she has assembled a good squad which is capable of upsetting the tables in Lusaka.
“We are set to raise our flag high, and l can assure Malawians to expect good results from us,” said Mhone.
The following is the Malawi Queens Under-20 Squad which has made the trip.
-Pilirani Msuka.
-Cathy Yikwangwa.
-Thandiwe Galeta
-Chinasi Bande.
-Joyce Mvula
-Alinafe Kamwala.
-Beauty Nyangulu
-Memory Mwazani.
-Phalesi Nkama.
-Ruth Kaliyenda.
Coach: Connis Mhone.
Team Manager: Judith Chalusa
-Lauren Ngwira.
Football
Malawi national soccer team Under-20 team manager Charles Manda said basing on the preparations which they had; people should expect good results from the Junior Flames squad
“Most of the players in this squad also took part in the last tournament against Botswana, and we have confidence in the young lads to produce good results,” said Manda.
The squad :
-Dalitso Makunganya.
-Ken Nyirenda.
-Lovemore Jere.
-Albert Mpinganjira (Jnr).
-Ernest Tambe.
-Festus Chikweza.
-Ken Kaunda.
-Lovemore Jere.
-Cliford Bololo.
-Juma Kaipa.
-Boston Katsonga.
-Antony Kapa.
-Lesman Singini.
-Brian Phiri.
-Thoko Harrisoni.
-Abraham Kamwendo.
-Vincent Chavi.
-Wongani Kuchisanja.
Coach: Leo Mpulula
Team Manager: Charles Manda.
Boxing
Boxing Coach Andy Muyaya told Nyasa Times that their aim was to bring two gold and bronze .
Muyaya, who has left with five boxers urged Malawians in Zambia to come in large numbers during the bouts to give the Team Malawi vocal support.
Boxers
-Steve Maliko- Walter Weight
-Ernest Msoliza- Light Weight.
-Israel Kamwambwa- Super Fly Weight.
-Tinkhani Kamanga- Bantum.
-Aubrey Masamba- Light Fly Weight
Coach: Andy Muyaya.
Basketball
Basketball team Manager Dalitso Thepeteya said all was set for them to bring home silver which is their main target.
Thepeteya, who has left with eleven basketball players said, “ Our plea to Malawians is to leave us in prayers otherwise we are going to Lusaka not on holiday but to raise our flag.”
Basketball Squad
-Mike Chimombo
-Yamikani Dhimingu
-Emmanuel Lembi
-Chimaliro Bentry
-Justice Makolo
-Witness Kadam’manja
-Crightom Nyalani
-James Suluma
-IVOR Mlenga
-Tikhala Mbedza
Coach: Buleya Phiri
Team Manager: Dalitso Thepeteya
Athletics
Athletics Coach Dennis Phiri told Nyasa Times that they were fully geared for the games and vows to bring home some medals.
“People should not doubt us because we have a good crop of athletes who are set to produce good results and bring home medals,” he said.
Athletes
-Ceffas Kasiten.
-Grevazio Mpani
-Golden Gunde
-Stoneck Jamali
-Memory Chauluka
-Marita Phiri.
Coach: Dennis Phiri
Paralympics
In Paralympics, about three athletes have made the trip alongside two guidance.
The athletes, who have made the trip include Rachael Kaunda, Witness Asthma and Towonere Banda with Chiyembekezo Jamali and Faith Labani as guidance.
Paralympics coach George Luhanga said: “We have no worries except that only one athlete Tawonere missed two training sessions.
Tennis
Tennis Coach Benard Phiri said they were fully prepared for the games
and pleaded with Malawians to support them during the games.
The four players, who will represent Malawi in tennis, include Aggrey Chidothi, Chipangano Sandukira, Mercy Luhanga and Prisca Maloya.
Coach: Benard Phiri
Team Manager: Huxon Mwethiwa
Frustrations
However, shortage of foreign currency also affected the athletes, who left for Lusaka as they were given Malawi Kwacha cash instead of the foreign currency.
Athletes, who spoke on condition of anonymity, questioned why they were given kwacha because they had nowhere to change the money since Banks were closed at the time they were given the cash.
“We have been given our local currency instead of foreign currency. Where do they think we will change this money at this hour? This is unfair because taking Malawi Kwacha to Lusaka is useless,” said one athlete.
According an inside source at Sports Council, the athletes were given local currency due to lack of foreign currency in the country.
“Indeed, the athletes were given our local currency because of the shortage of foreign currency. There was no any option and they were told to go and change the money on their own,” said the source.
Uniforms
There was also drama, when the team left late night as they were waiting for the jerseys which were stuck at Mwanza Border.
Nyasa Times understands that the jerseys for all the sporting disciplines arrived at Mwanza Boarder on Monday, December 3, 2012 from South Africa.
“Upon arrival, the bus which carried the jerseys had to wait until Tuesday afternoon to be cleared, a development which led to team depart Blantyre for Lusaka very late night since they were waiting for the jerseys to arrive in Blantyre from Mwanza,” said an inside
source.
Apart from waiting for the jerseys to arrive, the team had also to leave late night as they were waiting for Swimmers, who most of them were sitting for exams at St Andrews High School.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
