| Netball in Malawi | |
|---|---|
 Namitembo Trade and Agriculture School (NAMTAS) (in black) vs. Changalume. Namitembo, Zomba West, Malawi | |
| Country | Malawi |
| Governing body | Netball Association of Malawi [1] [2] |
| National team(s) | Malawi |
Netball in Malawi is organized by the Netball Association of Malawi.
The Malawi national netball team competes in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, [3] [4] the Commonwealth Games, [5] [6] [7] the African Netball Championships, [8] the Fast5 Netball World Series [9] [10] and the SPAR Diamond Challenge. Malawi's best performance at a major international tournament was a third place finish at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. [10] Malawi has defeated New Zealand, Australia and England in international tournaments. [9] [10] [11] As of 1 July 2020, they are sixth in the INF World Rankings. [12]
Malawi's three regions – Central Region, Southern Region and Northern Region – all have regional leagues. The top teams from the regions played in two national competitions, the Presidential Championship and the Champions League. The latter competition was launched in 2013 and was sponsored by GOtv Africa. It initially featured the top teams from Blantyre and Lilongwe but in 2015 it was expanded to included teams from Mzuzu. In 2014 and 2017 the Champions League used Fast5 netball rules in order to help the Malawi national netball team prepare for the 2014 and 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series tournaments. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
In 2023, the national competitions were replaced by the new National Netball League. [20]
| Team | Former name | Sponsor/benefactor | Home city | Region | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Eagle Sisters [21] | Malawi Police Service | Lilongwe | Central Region | 1985 | |
| Civo Nets [22] | Malawi Civil Service | Lilongwe | Central Region | mid–1970s | |
| Kukoma Diamonds | ESCOM Sisters [23] | ESCOM | Blantyre | Southern Region | 2005 |
| Thunder Queens | Post Nets MTL Queens [24] | MBC Malawi Telecommunications Limited | Blantyre | Southern Region | 1980s |
| Mzuzu Queens | Mzuzu | Northern Region | |||
| Tigresses [25] | ADMARC Tigresses Bingu Tigresses | ADMARC Bingu wa Mutharika | Blantyre | Southern Region | 1970s |
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented New Zealand at the World Games. New Zealand made their test debut in 1938. As of 2023, New Zealand have been world champions on five occasions and Commonwealth champions twice. They are regularly ranked number two in the World Netball Rankings.
Mzimba is a district in the Northern Region of Malawi. The capital is Mzimba and the biggest town is Mzuzu, which is also the administrative headquarters of the Northern Region. The district covers an area of 10,473 km2 and has a population of 1,017,701 (2023). It is the largest district in Malawi. The district is inhabited by descendants of Tumbuka and few Ngoni people who also speak Tumbuka as the Ngoni language is extinct. Tumbuka is the predominant language spoken in the district.
Super League of Malawi, also known as the TNM Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the top football division in Malawi. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Malawi Regional Football Leagues.
The South Africa national netball team, also known as the SPAR Proteas, represent Netball South Africa in international netball tournaments, such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. Their best result in a major tournament is a silver medal at the 1995 World Netball Championships. As of 1 March 2024, South Africa are currently fifth in the World Netball Rankings.
The Malawi national netball team, nicknamed "The Queens", represent Malawi in international netball competitions.
Ama Agbeze is an England netball international. She was captain when England won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2019 she received an for her services to netball. She was also a member of the England team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. As of 2020, Agbeze has played for at least sixteen different club teams in England, Australia and New Zealand.
Silver Strikers Football Club is a Malawian professional football club based in Lilongwe, currently playing in the TNM Super League, the top division of Malawian football. The club was founded in 1977 as a social team for staff at the Reserve Bank of Malawi, hence the club's nickname The Bankers.
The Australia national netball team, also known as the Australian Diamonds, represent Netball Australia in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented Australia at the World Games. Australia made their Test debut in 1938. As of 2023, Australia have been World champions on 12 occasions and Commonwealth champions on 4 occasions. They are regularly ranked number one in the World Netball Rankings.
The Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 (NWC2015) was the 14th edition of the INF Netball World Cup, the premier competition in international netball. It was held from 7–16 August, in Sydney, Australia, which secured hosting rights after defeating a rival bid from Manchester, England. Matches were played at Allphones Arena and Netball Central. Sixteen nations competed at the championships, including the top six teams from the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore. After two rounds in which teams competed in pools of four, Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica contested the semi-finals. Australia defended its 2011 title against New Zealand by a narrow 58–55 victory. The final at Allphones Arena was attended by 16,752 people, a world record for any netball game. Malawian shooter Mwai Kumwenda was the player of distinction.
Joanne Elizabeth Harten is a former England netball international. She was a member of the England team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.
Mwai Kumwenda(Note 1) is a Malawian netball international player. She represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups. Kumwenda was the top goal scorer at three successive major tournaments – the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 Netball World Cup and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. At the 2015 Netball World Cup she was also named player of the tournament. Kumwenda captained Malawi and was again tournament top scorer when they finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. At club level Kumwenda has played for Peninsula Waves in the Victorian Netball League, Victorian Fury in the Australian Netball League, Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Championship and for Melbourne Vixens in Suncorp Super Netball.
Kamuzu Barracks Football Club are a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Lilongwe and currently playing in the TNM Super League, the top division of Malawian football.
Blue Eagles Football Club is a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Lilongwe that currently plays in the TNM Super League, the top division of Malawian football.
Towera Vinkhumbo, also referred to as Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda or Towera Nyirenda, is a Malawi netball international and a Malawi women's football international. As a netball player she represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups. Vinkhumbo was also a member of the Malawi team that finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. At club level, Vinkhumbo plays for Strathclyde Sirens in the Netball Superleague. In July 2019, the same month she played for Malawi in the 2019 Netball World Cup, she also represented Malawi at the 2019 COSAFA Women's Football Championship. She also played for Malawi in 2020 Summer Olympic football qualifiers.
Sindi Simtowe is a Malawian netball player who plays for Malawi in the positions of goal attack or goal shooter. She was in three consecutive World Cup tournaments for Malawi in 2011, 2015 and in 2019. She has also represented Malawi at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, 2014 and in 2018.
Bridget Kumwenda, also referred to as Bridget Chalera or Bridget Kumwenda Chalera, is a Malawi netball international player. She represented Malawi at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kumwenda was also a member of the Malawi team that finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series.
The 2020–21 Super League of Malawi was the 35th season of the Super League of Malawi, the top professional league for association football clubs in Malawi since its establishment in 1986. Nyasa Big Bullets are the defending champions. It started on 28 November 2020 before it was postponed in March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi.
Loreen Ngwira also spelt as Laureen Ngwira is a Malawian netball player who plays for Malawi in the positions of GD and GK.
Takondwa Lwazi also spelt as Takwonda Lwazi is a Malawian netball player who plays for Malawi internationally and for Malawian local club Blue Eagles in the positions of C and WA. She is known as one of the finest netball centre players to have played for Malawi despite being only 160cm tall in height. She also serves as a Police Sergeant in the Malawi Police Service.
Malawi competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Birmingham, England from 28 July to 8 August 2022. Having made its Games debut in 1970, it was Malawi's fourteenth appearance to date.
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