Door still open for Tigresses players – Netball Association of Malawi

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has reiterated that the door is not completely shut for Tigress players in the Malawi Queens team following their omission on the list of players who are in camp preparing for Test Series in Australia and the Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand, next month.

NAM dropped Tigresses slippery shooter, Sindi ‘Sniper’ Simutowe alongside vast experienced centre, Beatrice Kadango, Grace Mhango and Lauren Ngwira on disciplinary grounds.

NAM general secretary, Caro Bapu told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Sunday that the four players were dropped because of indiscipline during the presidential netball cup in Lilongwe where there was a fracas.

During the abandoned finals, Tigresses refused to oblige to NAM’s decision to ban them from the tournament after they featured Lauren Ngwira who failed a pregnancy test.

Tigresses’ players refused to vacate the field of play to pave way for other teams to continue the games until NAM had to call off the finals to a later date.

Bapu said the players conduct was uncalled for and stressed that for the meantime, the players remained sidelined from Malawi Queens until an official decision from the Malawi National Council of Sports was made.

“The players remain sidelined from national duty because of indiscipline. We are waiting for a final decision from the national council of sports since they appealed (the players),” said Bapu.

Bapu, however, emphasized that the players could be called into camp based on the verdict from the national council. “The door is not completely shut for the players but they have to wait for their verdict,” she said.

In their 20-member squad which was released last week, many new faces like Maggie Sikwese from Lameck Queens and Hendrina Longwe from Air Wing have been called.

However, there are still experienced players in the squad comprising New Zealand based Mwawi ‘Professor’ Kumwenda, Joana Kachilika, Caroline Mtukule, Jessica Mazengera, Joyce Mvula, Tina Kamzati, Bridget Kumwenda, Takondwa Lwazi and Jane Chimaliro.

The Malawi Queens will play against the New Zealand Silver Ferns and the Australian Diamonds next month in the Fast5 Netball World Series in Auckland in November.–Malawi News Agency

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