Netball Development

In terms of netball, coach Allan Nkonjera and district sports officer Rowland were very quiet. Rowland told me that Allan was away on his farm in Zambia. Then I got a picture saying the two had met up and the netball season would get going in March. I suggested to Rowland that he and Allan meet Wachisa and get some ideas about 'best practice' in organising U12 football with a view to replicating it for developing U12 netball. Historically, Rowland and Wachisa don't really get on so this could be a challenge. I had made the suggestion to Wachisa that through the already established eleven football clubs they might be able to encourage netball, find some netball leaders, get people interested, identify some young netball coaches and set up some initial netball festivals. Rowland replied with some 'free advice' he called it, saying football and netball were different with different governing bodies and that the idea would never work. 

Through Facebook, I had made contact with Malawi Queen's netball players Towera Vinkhumbo and Joyce Mvula. I had previously met Jane Mvula in Chitipa, Joyce's sister back in 2017. I had some good messages about how they liked the charity and would like to get involved. The Queen's were in the UK playing a four team competition with South Africa, England and Uganda. I also tried making contact with Peace Chawinga, the head coach. Towera suddenly went quiet and disapperaed off Facebook with a rumour that she had not returned to Malawi with the team. News said she was on a training course in England. Joyce Mvula is playing for the Leeds Rhino's in 2025 and I hope to meet up and encourage her support maybe as an 'Ambassador' for the charity.       

As promised the netball season started in Chitipa on March 25th with Allan Nkhonjera's first session at the MBC ground. I had been in contact since the start of the year trying to gauge the mood and potential plans for the U12 development project. Allan was very quiet and Rowland as usual made every excuse not to engage. I asked for a short term plan but Rowland said he would prefer to send a plan after activities had started. Rowland admitted to having little real committment to the job as funds were none exsistent and he was just getting his monthly pay to support his family. I already sensed this but was upset to hear the struggles he faced. Patrick Simwayi echoed the same view with no funding to support school sports. Allan also said that NAM offered no support for netball teams. Between them they have two netballs. I don't doubt this. 

I congratulated Allan on his first session and suggested that he invite the trained Young Coaches along to see what he was doing and let them get involved. He liked the idea and said it would happen. The Netball Association of Malawi were holding a Level 2 training course and I helped Allan with the 40,000 MK registration fee. I think it is good to invest in people and it will surely inspire Allan more to develop U12 netball. Wachisa was also challenged to encourage U12 netball development through the already existing U12 football initiative. He said the idea 'was selling like hot cakes'. The first ever U12 football and netball festival was in his diary. It knew this would upset Rowland and might just stir him into action. 

The Netball Association of Malawi were busy posting. Malawi is currently ranked 8th in the world out of 52 countries playing and with associations. This is incredible considering the size of population and lack of funding at 'grass roots' level. There are currently three players with overseas teams. Joyce Mvula at Leeds Rhinos, Towera Vitumbiko at Strathcyle Sirens in Scotland and Mwai Kumwenda at West Coast Fever, Perth, Australia. Mukuru, a South African money transfer company has donated £300,000 over 3 years to support U21 netball in Malawi. A squad and a 2 week camp has just started. Only 3 players were from the North! A new Northern Region Netball League has been established and supported with £30,000 over 3 years by an MP. I asked Allan if any of this money would help coaches like him develop netball at 'grass roots' level. He said 'No, every club has to fend for itself but it does provide some incentive to players that they might be recognised regionally and nationally'. It made me think back to 1999-2001 and the all conquering Phwezi Girls and our Northern Region select team. Did any of those girls ever play at national level?      

I had suggested to Allan that a way to get the U12 project moving would be to  invite some of the potential young netball coaches who had already attended the training course at the end of 2024 to train with him on a regular basis. He identified 10 girls from CCAP and Nachiwe primary schools to train twice a week. It has started and he has sent pictures. Rowland has also been getting involved and will have to take the sessions when Allan attends his Level 2 coaching course in Mzuzu. I again attempted to get Allan, Rowland and Wachisa talking about having a U12 netball festival run alongside the next football festival that is happening soon. Allan commented that 'Wachisa would have to stand on a straight line' if they worked together. I know Wachisa and Rowland have had issues before but it is better if they can work together. 

April 14th the Netball Association of Malawi held a short 2 hour 'talent identification programme' at Chitipa Secondary School and Allan told me that 5 of his players were selected for a further training camp in Lilongwe. The main criteria said that the girls had to be 'over 1.70 metres in height but no previous netball experience necessary'. 

At the start of 2025, I had netball poles on my mind a lot. One option was to buy some in UK and send via Bananabox. I considered this for a while as a pole would only cost about £20 and to send eight would be about £120. Then I had a reality check. Prices have increased a lot recently in Malawi when the Kwacha was devalued a few years ago. Prices in Chitipa are always more because of its remote location. I had a series of confusing FB messages from Tony 'Metal Worker' Mwathunga in Chitipa. I was trying to get eight 3 metre poles for the new U12 netball posts. Trying to get estimated prices for different sized diameter poles was proving difficult. In the end I managed to get a quote of 50,000 MK (about £20) for a 3-metre pole with a 50 mm diameter. I sent the money to Tony via Western Union before I changed my mind. I had put my faith in Tony 'the welder' many times before and he hasn't let me down yet. He said he would get the poles cheaper from Lilongwe and they would arrive in Chitipa in a few days and they did. When the hoops arrive in August, Tony's welding skills will be needed again.  

Netball Coach Allan Nkhonjera went to Mzuzu in early May and completed his Level 2 Netball Coaching course at Katoto Secondary School. He said it was tough but he had completed the course. 23 coaches attended the course and there was also an umpires course. Well done the Netball Association of Malawi! Back in Chitipa, Allan told me that he was struggling to get the group of young netball coaches back together after the two weeks off in his absence. Rowland had agreed to help but hadn't. It wasn't really the response that I wanted. 

On the 1st of June the new Northern Region Netball League kicked off in Chitipa. Four teams are involved it seems with Chitipa Queens beating Future Home Sisters 41-33 and Home Sisters beating Golden Stars 35-23. It was news to me that Allan also coaches Golden Stars but never mentioned it. The other two teams are under a certain Winston Kayange. It again annoyingly went quiet on the netball front so I asked Allan, Rowland and Patrick Simwayi to meet and make some netball plans for my visit in August. Let's see what they come up with. Netball development in Chitipa really needs a 'Wachisa' figure to take it forward and someone who I can connect with and want to support.