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.
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.
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
RSS Feed