Africa-Press – Malawi. Malawi National Netball Team Coach Peace Chawinga- Kaluwa wants her charges to remain active if they are to excel at next year’s Commonwealth Games. Chawinga-Kaluwa made the remarks following the Queens’ third-place finish at the Africa Netball Cup, which ended on Tuesday in Windhoek, Namibia.
“We have learnt a lot of lessons from the games. We believe that we will take them forward. The last game in particular was an eye-opener. We need to remain active so that we go to the Commonwealth Games in great shape,” she said.
The third-place finish has endangered Malawi’s status as one of the netball powerhouses on the continent following the improvement of Uganda. Both the Queens and Uganda continue to play second fiddle to South Africa, who lifted the cup on Tuesday. Chawinga-Kaluwa said, with seven months to go before the Commonwealth Games, the Queens needed to step up their preparations.
“We have already started talks as regards where we need to take the team to and what needs to be done. My bosses at Nam [Netball Association of Malawi] have taken note of what needs to be done and we are just looking forward. We do not need to rest with the Commonwealth Games ahead of us,” she said.
Nam President Abigail Shariff said they expected a technical report from Chawinga-Kaluwa to finalise Commonwealth Games preparation plans. “The report will guide us on what we need to do. However, it is clear that we need to build developmental structures to systematically groom players from the grassroots to senior level,” Shariff said.
Meanwhile, Africa Netball Cup President Cecilia Molokwane has paid tribute to Malawi attacker Jane Chimaliro, who was named the competition’s best shooter despite missing the last match, a 44-44 stalemate with Uganda.
Chimaliro did not feature in the game as she was on her way back from Namibia following the death of her husband in a car accident on Monday. Molokwane’s message reads: “This is sad news, our sincere condolences to her, her family and the Netball Malawi Association. May his soul rest in peace, Psalm 23 vs 131.”
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