Malawi national netball team

History

Malawi have played in six World Netball Championships, famously finishing fifth in 2007.

In 2012 they competed in the Fast5 tournament in Auckland, where they have had several historic results including wins over Australia and England, and finished in 5th place, just narrowly missing out on the finals. This followed a draw against Australia in the 2010 Edition. Airtel Malawi is a significant financial donor of the Malawi Queens, having sponsored their trip to Auckland for the Fast5 World Series in 2014 to a sum of K6 M. The current Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president is independent politician Abigail Shariff. She was elected to replace Khungekile Matiya in 2021.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Malawi defeated the second-ranked team in the world, New Zealand, for the first time in history.

In November 2022, the team were sixth on the World Netball Rankings. Malawi competed at the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. By virtue of its position in the World Netball Rankings, Malawi qualified for the tournament. Fixtures were announced in November 2021, then updated with the remaining qualifiers in March 2022. Malawi finished fourth in their group at the competition behind hosts England, New Zealand and Uganda.

In 2022 Abigail Shariff and Minister of Youth and Sports, Richard Chimwendo Banda, persuaded Monica Chakwera, the first lady of Malawi. to become the patron of the national netball team. Shariff believed that the first lady would be able to assist with the team's problems. The team was suffering from a lack of funding particularly for domestic matches. In May 2024 Shariff and the rest of the executive committee of the national netball team resigned. The Sports Council were obliged to step in to provide support until a new committee can be appointed.

In 2023, Malawi took part in the Netball World Cup in Cape Town. Malawi finished second in Group B, winning matches against Scotland and Barbados to qualify for the second round. In the second round in Group F, Malawi won further matches against Tonga and Fiji and finished third in the group behind England and Australia, thus failing to proceed to the knockout section of the tournament. Following placement matches, Malawi finished 7th in the tournament. Joyce Mvula was the team's highest goal scorer, and the fourth highest overall in the tournament, with 194 goals.

Players

2023 Netball World Cup Roster

Jane Chimaliro (Captain), Martha Dambo, Thandi Galeta, Mwai Kumwenda, Takondwa Lwazi, Madalitso Mkandawire, Caroline Mtukule, Joyce Mvula, Grace Mwafulirwa, Lauren Ngwira, Sindi Simtowe, Towera Vinkhumbo.

Reserves: Shabel Bengo, Salome Nkhom, Mma Lepona Manyonyoba

Coach: Sam Kanyenda

Notable past players

• Mary Waya
• Connie Mhone

Coaches include

The Queens have been coached by Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa. She replaced Whyte Mlilima, who was appointed as caretaker head coach after former coach late Griffin Saenda had to withdraw from the team on medical grounds in 2018.

Joanna Kachilika was one of only six people who had the Africa Level One Certificate in coaching and in January 2024 she was named as Malawi's National Team Coach. She took over following an eight month hiatus after the dismissal of Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa. Her assistant was to be Eleanor Mapulanga and Beatrice Mpinganjira was the trainer. She was chosen because of her commitment but also because there was no regular wage associated with the position because of funding shortfalls. In November 2024 she was replaced. This time the choice was to have co-coaches for the national team of Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa and Mary Waya.

Kachilika was not consulted and she was offered the position of under-21 coach. She refused this position and the NAM General Secrerary, Yamikana Kauma, understood that Kachilika had instructed her lawyers and they were trying to resolve the impasse.

Competitive history

References

• Malidadi, Mphatso (29 November 2022). https://times.mw/nam-yet-to-pick-queens-assistant-coach/?amp=1

References

1. Gay, Edward. (17 November 2007). "Jubilant Malawi finish fifth". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
2. "Face of Malawi, Oct 29, 2014".
3. Reporter, Nyasa Times. (2021-08-08). "NAM elects MP Abigail Shariff as president; Incumbent Khungekile Matiya withdrew from race - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi".
4. (8 April 2018). "Minnows Malawi shock Silver Ferns to leave New Zealand in danger of missing Commonwealth Games glory". News.com.au.
5. Malidadi, Mphatso. (23 November 2022). "Queens move 6th in world, displace Uganda".
6. Online, Nation. (2022-06-21). "First Lady nods to Queens’role".
7. Malidadi, Mphatso. (2024-05-31). "Sports Council to manage transition".
8. Mbewe, Chipambano. (18 March 2018). "Malawi Queens depart without head coach Saenda: NAM appoints Mlilima as caretaker". Nyasa Times.
9. Reporter, Our. (2024-01-25). "Kachilika named Queens coach".
10. Zgambo, Mike Lyson. (2022-07-22). "Mary Waya appointed Namibia coach Malawi 24 {{!}} Latest News from Malawi".
11. Chirwa, Garry. (2024-12-21). "Ex-Queens coach snubs NAM, takeslegal action".
12. [https://archive.today/20150112011655/https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/netball/fast-five/news/article/-/15353584/fast5-pool-points-table/ NZ Yahoo Sports]