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| Sports |
| Netball queens thrash Lesotho |
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by
Garry Chirwa, 22 July 2004
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12:46:53
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Malawi national netball team on Wednesday morning got off to a grand start in their quest to win back the regional Cosana showcase when they slaughtered Lesotho 70-22 in their opening match played at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal court in South Africa.
Everything the netball queens touch glitters in gold and on Wednesday they showed their thirst to conquer the region once again by leaving the Basothos feeling sick in the stomach.
And it can’t be more sweeter—this year’s winner will take home a cash prize of a cool R50,000 (about K900,000) and the queens have all the reason to sweat it out.
Coach Griffin ‘Zagallo’ Saenda said Malawi were in the mood from the word go and led 18-2 in the first quarter and gangling goal shooter Linda Magombo was a marvel to watch using her height advantage to the limit by netting basket after basket.
Malawi led 57-15 in the third quarter before finally sweeping the Basothos aside in the last quarter.
“The girls played very well, it was a wonderful performance that must have sent a shiver down the spines of other opponents. We are ready for any opponent coming our way and we are looking at nothing short of taking home the gold medal,” said Saenda.
One of the senior players Peace Chawinga said: “It was a wonderful game and we’ll certainly not ease down a gear, our mission is to bring the cup home.”
But Saenda said the queens were nearly barred from participating in the regional showcase because of the debt owed to the Supreme Council of Sports.
“Cosana communicated to us soon after our arrival that it had been asked not to allow us to participate because of that debt but since I am a Cosana official myself, I argued at length on that point stating that it was not a good reason enough to bar us from the tourney.
“I also contended that if that was the case then Cosana should not have invited us to participate in the first place. Apparently Cosana agreed with our argument and stated that they would not accommodate the Supreme Council’s directive,” said Saenda.
Saenda also said Zambia and Zimbabwe who confirmed participation and paid affiliation fees have not arrived in Durban and their participation is doubtful.
Seven teams are taking part in the tournament with the hosts and defending champions South Africa featuring two teams A and B, the other teams are Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana.
Malawi were taking on South Africa’s B side on Wednesday evening as we went to press and are scheduled to take on Botswana and South Africa’s main team on Thursday.
Following was the line-up against Lesotho: Goalkeeper: Esther Nkhoma (Anne Kapatuka), goal defender Judith Chalusa (captain), wing defender: Sylvia Malenga Metetemera (Esther Kayira), centre: Peace Chawinga, wing attacker Ruth Kaipa (Lincy Akidu), goal attacker Mary Waya Ng’oma and goal shooter: Linda Magombo.
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