Diamonds, Tigresses intensify battle for top spot: Tropical Queens in third defeat
Struggling Tropical Thunder Queens netball team continues to be facing hurdles in the 2019 Rainbow Paints Blantyre and Districts Netball League after losing for the second time to the league holders Kukoma Diamonds to become the first giant side to register a third defeat in this year.
Tropical Queens who were in a serious mission aimed at searching for a revenge for their first round defeat, their mission ended in a frustrations as they suffered another loss on Saturday at Blantyre Youth Centre with a 23-42 baskets.
It was a super cracker which attracted many netball fans and no wonder the game also started with a high temple beginning from the first quarter where the two sides displayed a classic play despite the shooters from both sides lacking composure as they struggled to score more baskets after having plenty of opportunities.
Tropic Queens defence which was controlled by Malawi Queens stars of captain Joanah Kachilika and Martha Dambo was in a top class and too solid for Diamonds shooters Alinafe Kamwala and Jesca Mazangera Sanudi to break and penetrate into the shooting box until the third quarter where Dambo was forced to be out of court after sustaining knee injury.
Few minutes later the team started to be losing concentration and energy which resulted into giving Diamonds an advantage to play attacking game which saw them finishing the third quarter with 19-32 baskets.
In a post match interview with Nyasa Times, Tropical Queens head coach Christina Mkwanda Nsinji accepted the defeat but she quickly complained that the loss was due to a number of factors which included poor preparations and missing of key influential players who failed to be featured due to injuries.
Nsinji explained that majority of her players were lacking match fitness because they were coming from injuries and had no time to attend trainings.
“We started very well in today’s game but I knew that some of my players will not have enough energy to reach up to the last quarter. Its very painful to lose two games from one team in a season but I can’t blame my girls because I know that the main reason of all these, are the injuries,” said Nsinji.
Diamonds Vice coach Noel Mussa was very thankful to his players for the win which he said has increased their chances of maintaining the top position on the log table.
“Honestly, the competition is becoming tougher now to us because each and every game is turning to be hard since we are the league leaders so teams are trying to frustrate us. We are very much excited that our girls are trying their best to give us maximum points because they know very well that our target is to finish with another unbeaten record,” said Mussa.
Tropical Queens also lost to First Choice Tigresses in their first round meeting.
Here are the full results of games that were played on Saturday;
Chileka Sisters 39-68 Chilomoni Sisters
Serenity Stars 30-39 Shizaella Queens
Vicky Sisters 10-83 Prison Sisters
First Choice Tigresses 116-3 Machinjiri Sisters
Tropical Thunder 23-42 Kukoma Diamonds
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