Retired mvula in queens’ squad

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has included retired and pregnant shooter Joyce Mvula-Chimwenje in the extended 44-player Malawi Queens’ provisional squad that begins their build-up ahead of the 2027 Commonwealth Games. Mvula-Chimwenje announced last month that she was quitting playing netball both at club and international levels to focus on her pregnancy and family matters. The 31-year-old, who played for the United Kingdom (UK) top league club NIC Leeds Rhinos for the past two seasons, insisted that she will not return to action as a player.

However, NAM general secretary Yamikani Kauma yesterday said they decided to slot Mvula in the squad following advice from the newly-appointed expatriate technical consultant Debbie Fuller, who will lead the preparations with support from the Malawi University of Science and Technology, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences Sports Complex officials and an interim technical committee. “The new coach consultant advised us to include her on the list,” she said. But Mvula-Chimwenje yesterday expressed surprise with her inclusion.

“I made it clear that I have retired and I wonder why I am on the list,” she said. The squad also has Australia-based shooter Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, who recently joined that country’s second tier league side Peninsular Waves. Kumwenda-M’bwana, who excused herself from the Africa Netball Cup that Malawi hosted last December due to family commitments, was not available for comment on her inclusion but she recently toldThe Nationthat she could be available for the Commonwealth Games.

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Kauma said the Queens’ preparations were expected to open with comprehensive selection trials from yesterday up to March12 before progressing into the first preparatory camp. She said the trials will provide every player with a fair opportunity to showcase their skills, fitness and potential under high-performance standards before the first cut is made by March 4 this year. The interim technical committee has been put in place pending finalisation of interview process by Fuller and formal appointment processes.

Kauma said following the trials phase, the team will transition into the first intensive preparatory camp with a trimmed squad. “The programme is designed to elevate fitness levels, sharpen tactical discipline and build positional expertise,” she said.

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