FDH league exposes lack of indoor netball courts

Lack of standard indoor facilities is one of the major reasons behind the dwindling standards of netball, if the experience of clubs in the inaugural topflight FDH Premier Netball League is anything to go by, Nation on Sunday understands. Elite netball clubs have endured a prolonged season due to the unavailability of adequate indoor facilities that cater for uninterrupted matches during the rainy season. The 12-team league threw off last August and was expected to conclude by December.

However, it has delayed by three months, leading to clubs spending more than what they budgeted for. Outdoor facilities such as Blantyre Sports Arena, Gateway Mall Court in Lilongwe and Mzuzu Upper Stadium Court become slippery when wet and have not been conducive for matches during the rainy season. Currently, the Griffin Saenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe, which has not been used in the league following closure for construction works completion immediately after hosting the Africa Netball Cup last December, is the only standard indoor facility for elite netball matches in the country.

Currently, Malawi cannot host top-ranked netball teams such as Australia and England due to lack of standard indoor facilities. Blue Eagles Sisters coach Madano Tepetheya said: “Of course, Malawi has some other indoor facilities such as the KuHes Sports Complex in Blantyre and the African Bible College (ABC) Court in Lilongwe, but such venues lack some required standards. The uncompleted Civo Upper Stadium Court is also used for netball matches.

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“For instance, the ABC court is too small for competitive netball matches while the KuHes Sports Complex indoor facility lack good space for spectators. We need standards indoor facilities at least in every city.” Tigresses assistant team manager Ruth Kaipa-Chimombo said they foresee going through the same challenges next season if they issue of having standard match facilities is not sorted out. As a temporary arrangement, she suggested that NAM can make partnerships with current netball sponsors, other corporate entities and the government to consider upgrading facilities such as open-to-air Blantyre Sports Arena with some make-shift roofing. NAM vice-president Tadala Billie, who is also FDH Premier Netball League’s organising committee chairperson, admitted that the issue of netball facilities is a serious challenge and they will liaise with corporate partners and the government to map the way forward.

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