Malawi National Council of Sports has warned Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) that they risk not being funded for the Queens’ 2023 Netball World Cup unless they hold their annual general meeting (AGM) by April 1.

The latest development comes two months after NAM affiliates threatened to take an unspecified action if the local netball governing body failed to hold its  annual assembly by December last year.

NAM has not been holding AGM since its executive committee was elected in August 2021.

Sports Council’s warning comes at a time the financially struggling Queens are preparing for the first global show on Africa soil this July in Cape Town, South Africa.

At present, they need at least K190 million for their trip to Australia to take part in the eight-nation PacificAus Sports Netball Series between April 24 and 29, which will be their first outing in eight months.

Queens captured during training at Kuhes Sports Complex in Blantyre yesterday

Said Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa: “Just like all other associations that have not conducted AGMs so far, NAM will not get funding for netball activities until they show commitment to fulfil their obligation of holding the annual assembly before the expiry of the 2022/23 financial year on April 1.”

But NAM vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali yesterday said they are doing the needful to hold the annual assembly.

“So far, we have written the council, explaining the challenges we faced as regards to holding the AGM and we are working towards holding it. However, I cannot say the dates set for such purpose at present,” he said.

Bakali said some of the challenges were financial hiccups and the Queens’ recent activities.

Meanwhile, the Queens have completed their two-week camping at  Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) Sports Complex in Blantyre and were supposed to start home-based training this week to be in shape for imminent events, but Bakali said lack of resources has held them down.

Four months ago, the world’s sixth-ranked Queens failed to travel to South Africa for the Spar Challenge as NAM could not source the required K80 million for the trip.

Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa recently told The Nation that the national netball team needs adequate and uninterrupted preparations if they are to do well at the World Cup.

The Queens have not been active since August last year when they competed in Netball World Cup qualififiers  in South Africa, where they finished second after going down 60-44 to the hosts.

At the global showpiece, the Queens are in Group B alongside third-ranked England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th-ranked Barbados.

Group A has Australia, Zimbabwe, Fiji and Tonga while hosts South Africa will take on Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka in Group C. Reigning champions New Zealand are in Group D alongside Uganda, Singapore and Trinidad & Tobago.

The post NAM at risk of sanctions first appeared on The Nation Online.