By Praise Majawa:
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has been forced to step in and sponsor a men’s tournament after struggling to attract sponsors.
The association says it is planning to introduce the competition within the next six months as part of efforts to develop men’s netball.
The game has struggled to establish a regular domestic competition despite the national team’s participation at continental level.
Nam president Vitumbiko Gubuduza said they will take responsibility for funding the tournament after failing to secure external sponsorship.
Gubuduza said they are exploring ways of developing the men’s game over the next six months, with the proposed tournament expected to provide players with a platform to compete regularly.
Malawi National Men’s Netball Team has participated in the Africa Netball Cup (ANC) twice despite having no established domestic competition.
The Kings finished last on both occasions, raising questions about the level of preparation and competitive exposure available to the players locally.
“For now, we are looking to use our own resources to give men’s netball a domestic platform in the hope that regular competition will help the Kings improve their standing on the continental stage,” Gubuduza said.
Last year when Malawi hosted the ANC in Lilongwe, the Kings finished last in the seven team competition.
A year later, they again completed the tournament without a win.
Malawi does not have an established men’s league that can consistently provide players with competitive matches.
The league would allow coaches to monitor their development and create a wider pool for national team selection.
After the recent ANC in Nairobi, Kenya, Kings coach Garvey Nyondo said absence of a competitive domestic leagues is one of the major challenges affecting the team’s development.
“Our players have limited opportunities to play competitive matches outside national team camps, making it difficult to maintain match sharpness, build combinations and improve their competitiveness against established sides,” Nyondo said.