AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Kumwenda Versus NAM Saga Deepens

7/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Lilongwe, Malawi, July 17: The standoff involving Malawi star netballer, Mwawi Kumwenda and Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has deepened with both sides stuck deep to their uncompromising positions.

In the latest development, NAM has refused to bow down to demands made by Kumwenda handlers that they (NAM) should withdraw a warning letter they issued to the player for her alleged indiscipline.

The netball governing body chief, Rosy Chinunda has struck a defiant note, declaring that as the issue is concerned they will not budge arguing it will not happen and it has not happened elsewhere.


“Infact, that is not the issue, we should be discussing because to us the issue is buried. We cannot go to that extent. If she does not want to join the team then that is it,” declared Chinunda.

This defiant stance comes amidst reports that the beleaguered netball governing body had earlier emailed Kumwenda an ultimatum letter ordering her to join the ongoing Netball World Cup training by Yesterday (Thursday) or risk being excluded from the squad.

 However, Kumwenda has also responded in kind, ignoring the ultimatum that was issued to her by the netball governing body officials.

Her legal advisor and manager, Hlupekire Phiri Chalamba told a local daily that if NAM is not prepared to withdraw the contentious letter then the player will not join the ongoing national team preparations.

“If they are not prepared to withdraw the warning letter then fine and good,” said Phiri-Chalamba.

She also accused the netball governing body of leaking the correspondence between the two sides to New Zealand’s ANZ Championship   side Canterbury Tactix where Kumwenda plies her trade.

 “What has the issue to do with her club? It is a clear manifestation that they are up to something sinister which is not good,” she said.

Phiri-Chalamba further confirmed reports that she had conferred with the Minister of Sports Grace Chiumia whom she said was very understanding when she presented to her the facts of her client case.

Yesterday Chiumia told a local radio station that she will mediate in the disagreements between the two sides though pointing out that it is not her responsibility to interfere into administrative matters of sporting governing bodies.

She explained in an interview aired Thursday that she had decided to intervene in the row because the case was of national interest and the nation wanted the standoff to be resolved.

Minister Chiumia who is currently in the northern province of the country undertaking other official engagements said she will organise a meeting between the two warring sides upon arriving in the administrative city Lilongwe.

“I spoke to Hlupie as well as NAM and once I return from the North, i will call for a meeting,” said Chiumia.

Meanwhile, Malawi national netball coach, Peace Chawinga-Kalua has appealed to the two sides to immediately resolve their disagreement to enable Kumwenda return to the team.

The outspoken coach was forthright in her views when asked about the standoff between the two parties that looks far from resolution in an interview aired Friday morning.

“As a coach, I need Kumwenda in the team at all cost. I did not expect this issue to drag on this long. I thought the two sides could by now have reached some sort of common understanding,” lamented Chawinga-Kalua.

She appealed to both camps to exercise some flexibility on the matter reminding them that the player is needed to perform a national duty.

The coach said, the country’s sole professional netballer is indispensable and her services and experience will be desperately needed at the World Cup and hinted that the door is still open for her inclusion in the team.

She added that most of the team’s arsenals attending the ongoing Queens training are defence oriented and cannot measure up to Kumwenda’s capability.

“For her to achieve 98 per cent shooting accuracy at her club against the same Australian and New Zealand defenders we are likely to meet at the world Cup, proves her excellence.

“We have experienced players, but most of them are aligned towards defensive positions,” explained Chawinga-Kalua.

By: Joel Chirwa
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network