Malawi Queens legend Mary Waya has been appointed head coach of Namibia national netball team, the Desert Jewels.

Namibian Netball Association yesterday posted on its official Facebook page that they have roped in the former Queens’ shooter and coach to enhance the Desert Jewels’ technical panel ahead of their imminent 2023 World Cup qualifiers.

To head Namibia’s technical panel: Waya

The 54-year-old heads a five-member technical panel that has Antoinette Wentworth and Llyod Makunde as her assistants. Malan Elago is team manager while Maria Mulunga is the team doctor.

Reads the post in part: “We are pleased to announce the technical team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, slated for August 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa.”

The World Netball’s Hearts ambassador, who is regarded as a role model for many in Africa through her legacy as a former international netballer, was not available for comment yesterday.

Waya also had a stint as head coach of Tanzania national team.

In 2018, she was part of English netball side Hertfordshire Mavericks technical panel as a shooters’ trainer.

Waya also served as director of netball in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, but the contract expired and director of sports in the ministry, Jameson Ndalama, yesterday said it is in the process of being renewed.

Netball Association of Malawi vice-president Chimwemwe Bakali yesterday said the country is proud to see her heading a technical panel in foreign land.

He added that this is a wake-up call for Malawi to up its game as other countries are studying the Queens’ tactics and investing in the sport.

“This is good for Mary as an individual. Congratulations to her,” Bakali said.

“However, this tells us that countries know they have something to learn from Malawi and it is a wake-up call for us as we are being studied and we need to develop ourselves by moving to other levels. It is clear our colleagues are investing so much in the game and are trying to overtake us. We have a lot of work to do as netball and as a country than dwelling much on petty fights.”

Waya was part of the Queens squad at two World Netball Championships, three Commonwealth Games and two World Netball Series, but it was after she inspired the national team to a fifth place finish (Malawi’s highest world ranking) at the 2007 World Netball Cup that she earned global respect.

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