The Queens in the spotlight
By Precious Msosa
From December 8-14, 2025 Lilongwe hosted the Africa Netball Cup, undoubtedly one of the biggest netball fiestas on the continent as it brings together crème de la crème netball countries in the region.
As if living to the tournament’s status, netball fanatics thronged the magnificent Griffin Saenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe to enjoy the mouth-watering games. This was regardless of the fact that the games had an entry fee, the first of its kind for such international games in the country.
Going by the fan’s comments on some of Malawi’s netball Facebook pages prior to the games, the fans mobilized themselves to occupy the venue and give the Queens total support so that they avenge the ‘painful’ defeats to South Africa and Uganda which eventually displaced them on Africa’s number one and two position respectively.
And indeed, during the opening ceremony, as the teams were making their way to the court, there were wild chants from the cheerful fans. The ecstasy from the fans was a clear sign that they were expecting nothing short of great performance. With the tournament being hosted on the home soil, who could blame them with their enthusiasm after all?
The Queens: Officials say the team will bounce back (Photo Credit: NAM)
In almost every game which the Queens played, the fans never betrayed, they rallied behind them from the first to the last whistle, making sure they psychologically upset the Queens’ opponent. They tried every trick in the book, including booing the enemy.
However, this was never to be as come the Queens’ first game against arch-rivals South Africa, the 8th player in the stands never mattered. The Proteas, as they are affectionately called, whipped the home side left, right and centre with the game ending 38-58.
In the subsequent line-ups, the queens had to fight tooth and nail for wins against minnows Botswana 46-42 and Tanzania 55-34. As best losers for Group A, the Queens had to book a duel against Group B leaders Uganda in the semifinals. The match ended 33-46.
After bowing out to Uganda, the Queens turned to Zimbabwe for the third place play-offs, unfortunately the misery continued as they lost 44-48, ending the 11-team tournament on position four.
However, it is the performance in the games against Botswana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe that had made the fans cast a gloomy future on the Queens. Most of them were not happy that Malawi could be struggling against such smaller teams.
One would understand the concerns of the fans as not very long ago, all these countries were our punching bags.
According the comments on the Malawi Netball Facebook page, the Queens’ performance at the tournament leaves a lot to be desired and that if authorities are serious in trying to make the team a force to reckon with as before, a serious roadmap needs to be put in place.
But all is not lost as with the coming in of the new administration at Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), things appear to be moving in the right direction. The Vitumbiko Gubuduza-led administration seems to have breathed a new life into netball, enormously winning back the corporate trust.
The new administration, riding on the ‘rebuilding the game’ motto, has managed to lure the corporate world with several sponsorship at different levels of the game which is key into resuscitating the lost pride of the Queens. In their era, we have witnessed an active junior teams especially the queens’ Under-21 side which has been the feeder to the senior team.
Several companies like Mukuru, National Bank, FDH Bank and others have come in to partner NAM. With Mukuru, the junior Queens have been able to travel to Zambia for some test series as they geared up for the World Youth Netball Cup in Gibraltar in September, 2025. The participation in this competition was worth the salt as it turned out to be a revelation of some upcoming stars like Melia Soko, Florence Jeke and Stella Matelezi who showed great potential during the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe.
Just as was the case with Mwawi Kumwenda, Towera Vinkhumbo, Bridget Kumwenda, Sindi Simtowe and Ellen Chibokho who rose through the Under-21 side and became the reliable players for the senior Queens, the path of investing in the youth which NAM has taken will surely bear fruits.
Reflecting on the Africa Netball Cup, NAM General Secretary Yamikani Kauma said there is potential in the rebuilding exercise as evidenced by the performance of the new blood.
Kauma: There is potential in the rebuilding exercise (Photo Credit: Kauma)
Coach Peace Chawinga Kalua also expressed same sentiments by saying with time, she hopes the queens will bounce back and the signs are there. She said the young players who have been recruited into the senior team holds the key and all what is remaining is some polishing so that they completely shine at the senior stage.
But equally concerned with the Queens’ dismal performance at the Africa Netball Cup, NAM immediately demanded a report from the technical committee. Perhaps not satisfied with the report, NAM eventually advertised for the post of the Queens’ coach.
However, the hunt for the new coach has not pleased many netball fans who fear the development might jeopardize the Queens’ rebuilding exercise.
“Surely the new coach will also have his/her own philosophy. In the just ended Africa Netball Cup, we saw how vibrant the newly young promoted players performed. They showed great potential. So, you will find that when the new coach comes in, he or she will have a different eye on them and could end up dropping them. This will be like two steps forward and three steps backwards,” said Thoko Chirwa.
Most netball fans are afraid that with the new coach, set to be hired by the end of this month, the rebuilding exercise could hit a snag as every coach has his or her own choice of players.
But whatever the case, netball fans in the country expect nothing short of bringing back the glory days of the Queens. The incoming coach will have a bigger task of seeking redemption for the Queens during the Commonwealth Games and World Cup qualifiers which are the two major events this year.
