A strong Team Malawi arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday for the three test SPAR Challenge series against South Africa, starting on Saturday afternoon in Polokwane.
The Netball Association of Malawi has sent a 13-player squad for the SPAR Challenge, while coach Griffin Saenda has been replaced with his assistant, Edith Kaliati, a move explained by a policy of rotating coaches for specific assignments.
Saenda and Kaliati were the coaching combination behind Malawi’s success in last year’s Confederation of Southern African Netball Associations (COSANA) Games, and the team’s outstanding sixth placing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the SPAR South African Netball team, led anew after an absence of four years by Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan, is determined to beat Malawi on home turf, especially after losing to them by a small margin in both the COSANA Games and the Commonwealth Games last year.
The Malawi squad consists of experienced players such as shooter Mary Waya and centre Peace Chawinga, Esther Kaira and Emma Mzagada.
The two remaining Tests will be played in Cape Town on Monday 23rd July, and in Durban on Wednesday 25th July 2007.
The Malawi Team: Peace Chawinga, Mary Waya, Dziwanji Mtunduwatha, Emma Mzagada, Kelita Khengere, Mwai Kumwenda, Melenia Gideon Msowoya, Emily Nyanga Machinjiri, Sylvia Mtetemera, Esther Kaira, Caroline Mtukule, Towera Vinkhumbo and Esther Nkhoma.
SPAR National Netball Team:
Shooters: Sindisiwe Gumede (Zululand), Claudia Basson (Boland), Maryka Holtzhausen (Free State), Leanie Kleynhans (Boland);
Midfielders: Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan (Captain, Boland) Refiloe (Nana) Mochaka (Gauteng Central), Nthabiseng Mbatha (Gauteng Central), Precious Mthembu (Ethekwini);
Defenders: Adele Niemand (Free State), Leigh-Ann Zackey (Vice-Captain, Gauteng West), Anchen du Plessis (Free State), Karin Venter (Free State), Elzet Engelbrecht (Free State), Nombulelo Shongwe (Zululand), Doretha Joubert (Free State).
Venues and times of Test Matches:
21 July: Polokwane (Seshego) – N Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Centre at 14h00
23 July: Cape Town (Good Hope Centre) at 19h00
25 July: Durban (Howard College) – Old Mutual Sports Centre at 19h00
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