U12 netball gets going

During the August visit 19 teams had attended the stakeholders sensitisation meeting about trying to develop U12 netball. The teams wanted a basic training course and soon after I left, Coach Allan Nkhonjera held 3 days of training which 12 teams attended but at least things were moving. Allan said 'he had no choice but to hold the training after I had supported him to attend the level 2 course'. On the 3rd of October the first box of equipment was opened. I asked Wachisa to deliver the box with the 8 netball hoops and 20 size 4 netballs to Rowland. Rowland then invited those 12 which had taken part in the recent training to come and collect a size 4 ball. Unfortunately after two attempts only 5 schools and 2 clubs had turned up. He said they would hold the first U12 festivals on Saturday 11th October and gauge the interest and then let the committee decide how to handle the situation. I was rightly concerned with the downward trajectory of the numbers attending activities from 19 to 12 to 7. He is right it is not up to me to dictate what happens so I guess patience is required. Rowland now has the hoops so just needs to work quickly with Tony the welder to get them fixed, painted and in the ground. I really hope the festivals get a good turnout, otherwise what am I supposed to think. Since returning from Malawi I have been trying to make Facebook contact with at least one coach or teacher from each team. I am nearly there. The netball coaches started sending messages of thanks and pictures of them training which was lovely to see. Chimwemwe FP school coach Gilbert Mugala sent their U12 team picture. Ellen Nyondo netball coach at Chitipa Model FP school sent pictures of her team training. I set up some group chats with the teachers, coaches and committee to help with communication and feedback. 

Tony the welder had fixed the hoops but not yet painted because no white paint was available. Chitipa Model teacher and netball committee chairperson James Kilembe collected some posts keen to fix ahead of the U12 festival on Saturday and sent a great picture of his U12 girls proudly holding the posts. It seems as if the 5 'clusters' are ready. They have balls, bibs and now U12 sized posts. I would love to be in Chitipa this weekend to enjoy the fun. I hope it is a success. Festival day was a big success. The committee organised things really well with one member monitoring each cluster festival. Only the MBC cluster festival involving Chitipa Queens, Home Sisters, 11 Spanners and Twanda Pvt failed to happen. In the other 4 locations a total of 13 primary teams attended with only Lwakwa not attending. The feedback from James Kilembe and Mildred Chihana was just what I wanted. The Facebook contact with the sports teachers is also working well with lots of pictures and videos being sent. It couldn't have worked out any better to be honest. The committee are having a review meeting and then plans will be made going forward. 

Rowland managed to visit only Namuyemba festival on the day because he had to attend a government organised ' Walk for Life'. As for Patrick he was in Karonga at the launch of the Northern Education Division Sports Strategic Plan. The one that Jennings Kayira had proudly shown me in August was just a draft copy Patrick told me. All the past MASSA trophies won by the North were displayed and I wondered if the 1999 one was there pride of place.  

After the first festivals I received messages, pictures and videos from several netball teachers showing me friendly games and training sessions. There is some definite momentum with the U12 project. The netball committee met to plan the next phase of the project. I am hoping that a second round of festivals will be held soon and some Young Coaches are nominated by their teachers to attend some training. I am hoping the committee will organise this ahead of me suggesting it. The committee have planned a 2nd cluster festival to get more teams involved, umpire training, a 3rd cluster festival to find cluster winners, a zone final and a review meeting to take us to the end of 2025. They had some over age player issues and poor umpiring but I am sure they can sort that out in time. 

Primary schools break up for Christmas next week and have just finished end of term exams. There was still time for an end of 2025 under 12 zone netball competition. The committee have decided that there will be 8 teams (2 each from the 3 big clusters and 1 from the 2 small clusters). The teams will be a select team with representation from all schools and clubs. The chairperson requested a few incentives so he collected 27 pairs of trainers and a trophy from Wachisa. In the end 6 teams took part. Ilanga cluster were playing netball friendlies so did not attend. The only club not to get involved yet is Chitipa Sundowns. The games took place at the MBC ground. The winners were the select team from Namuyemba cluster (CCAP, Nachiwe, Namuyemba and Nakachenja). I am not sure exactly how the event was organised but I see it as a positive way to end the year. At the event 10 Young Coaches received trainers with another 7 to get some this week. I asked if the rest would go to the 8 senior coaches who attended. Overall, it has been a great start to the under 12 project. A basic training course, size 4 balls and bibs distributed, 4 sets of mini posts in the ground, two cluster festivals and a cluster select festival to finish. James said that he was happy with the progress made so far and the committee would meet in the holidays to make a plan for term 2. When asked he said that Rowland and Patrick had not helped in anyway which I was not surprised about. These two Chitipa sports officers are really desk bound or away at regional/national events all expenses paid. Rowland was in Lilongwe at the African netball championships he told me. When I asked him who had sponsored the event he said that the Ministry of Sports had invited the sports officers to see how a big competition was organised and managed. What a waste of money. As for Patrick Simwayi, the Education Office Sports Officer, I have now stopped even contacting him because of his lack of communication, constant excuses and inactivity. I know that in reality I must continue to consult them and keep them happy as things can get very political when anyone feels offended or undermined. However, I am really impressed with James Kilembe, his reports are thorough, his communications are timely and he sends plenty of pictures which is all I want. We still have 20 size 5 netballs in the shipment which will be distributed in term 2. James has talked about developing boys netball in the schools. Things look bright for netball and it has been a very positive start to the under 12 project.