Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has defended their decision to allow Malawi Queens to compete against lowly-ranked opponents in the four-day Cosana Tri-Nations Cup that starts today at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) Sports Complex in Blantyre.

The tournament is part of the Queens’ preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, next month and will have an impact on the world rankings.

Queens (in red) playing Botswana in Cosana Cup

Critics argue it is folly for the world’s seventh-ranked Queens to compete against 13th-ranked Zimbabwe’s Gems and 22nd-ranked Namibia’s Desert Jewels ahead of the prestigious global showpiece.

But NAM vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali on Saturday said Malawi stands to benefit a lot by testing their strength against the lowly-ranked teams.

“It is better to play low-ranked teams than to remain idle, considering that we can still gain some rating points should we beat Zimbabwe and Namibia,” he said.

The NAM vice-president added that the competition will give the Queens’ technical panel a chance to test new tactics ahead of the other tri-nation matches against high-ranked England’s Roses and hosts South Africa’s Spar Proteas this month. England are third on world rankings while South Africa is fifth.

However, the question many netball followers are asking is, can the Queens be in good shape ahead of the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Association (Cosana) Cup, considering that they broke camp over a week ago?

“Remember that the Queens have a home training programme,” said Bakali.

The Queens have just completed a two-week long camp training in Blantyre courtesy of K15 million support from their official sponsors FDH Bank.

Prior to the recent camping, local-based players were inactive since their first camping in February and the coach was assessing them through online sessions, courtesy of telecommunication service providers TNM plc, who were providing the players and the technical panel with data bundles for the last six months.

Malawi Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa on Saturday could not comment on her expectation and approach but she recently told our sister paper The Nation that while online sessions were good, physical assessment of players through training camps and friendly matches was the most effective.

Meanwhile, former NAM general secretary Carol Bapu has been appointed the competition’s organising committee chairperson and she said everything is ready for the event.

Annie Hanjahanja-Billie is the secretary while John Muhajiri, Steven Nyadira, Jane Kachali, Judith Chalusa, Allan Nkhonjera, Cecilia Bondwe, Yamikani Kauma, Tamara Fweta, Veronica Chigaula, Princess Mwakhwawa, Ken Phiri and Patricia Machongo are the other committee vmembers.

A 16-player Queens’ final squad that includes United Kingdom-based stars shooter Joyce Mvula and goalkeeper Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda is expected to compete in the event that will also involve Under-19 teams from all the three participating countries. Other players in the squad are Sindi Simtowe, Tendai Masamba, Jane Chimaliro, Maggie Sikwese, Takondwa Lwazi-Mtonga, Jessica Mazengera-Sanudi, Bridget Kumwenda, Thandi Galeta, Shira Dimba, Martha Dambo, Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira, Mada Mkandawire, Beauty Basiyao and Laureen Ngwira.

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