Eagles soar

Lilongwe-based Blue Eagles Sisters yesterday clinched the inaugural FDH Bank Premier Netball League title with a game to spare after beating Kukoma Diamonds of Blantyre 52-44 in their penultimate match at Civo Netball Court in Lilongwe. The Malawi Police Service outfit took their tally to an insurmountable 42 points from 21 games ahead of their last fixture against Tigresses this Sunday at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KuHes) Sports Complex in Blantyre. The Eagles are now six points ahead of second-placed Diamonds, who will seal the runner-up slot in the 12-team league if they beat Lilongwe-based CivoNets on the final day of action at KuHes Sports Complex.

Diamonds have 36 points from 21 games while CivoNets are third with 31 points from 19 outings. Eagles Sisters coach Madano Tepetheya attributed their success to hard-work, discipline and teamwork. He said their victory is a reward for an outstanding season, which has so far seen Eagles Sisters registering 21-straight victories.

“We are proud to become the first winners of the national league. I should commend our players for giving their all throughout the season,” he said. “We have great depth in the squad which has been key to our success.

[paywall]

It is not easy to beat us.” On his part, Diamonds coach Noel Mussa said: “Today, we didn’t play the way we had planned. But any way, we have to focus on the next game. We have lost out on the top spot and now we have to focus on consolidating the second spot.” Yesterday, Eagles went into the game with all guns blazing to lead in all quarters with attackers Takondwa Lwazi, Tapiwa Chikooka and Molly Chisambiro joining forces to lead the onslaught.

They began with a 15-7 lead in the first quarter before increasing the tally to 28-18 at half-time break and 41-28 at the end of the third quarter. In the end, it was not surprising to see them secure an eight-basket win. Diamonds tried to crawl back into the game with a frantic finish to the game, when goal attacker Jessica Mazengera-Sanudi and shooter Ida Mhone upped their game, but that was not enough to prevent a second defeat by the Eagles as Diamonds also suffered a 58-40 loss in the first round

[/paywall]