2017

In July 2017, Chitipa District Sports Officer Rowland Harawa spent a day at Nachiwe FP school. A one hour basic skills netball demonstration lesson was delivered by course tutor Andy Bottomer. The next day Rowland delivered the session. The medium term plan was for Rowland to deliver the training to sports teachers at the 13 primary schools and then follow up this initial training at the schools.  

2000

Netball North East had in 2020 donated 30 old netballs, trainers, bibs, kits, t shirts and caps. This kit had arrived in Chitipa in April 2021. The aim was to hold several netball training courses. A teacher training course, a Young Coaches training course and an Umpies course were planned. Five sets of junior netball posts are being made to support this initiative. 

2021

In June 2021 a Teacher Training Course was held for the 13 primary schools. Allan Nkhomjera, a local qualified netball coach who I had first met back in 1999 delivered the training. Some momentum and goodwill had been created on the back of the recent kit donations. 

In early 2021, through Facebook, Community Sports Leaders Africa made contact with The William Stewart Foundation that supports a community in Ibuluma near Chisenga. Rowland Harawa, the Chitipa District Sports Officer had invited the Netball Association of Malawi to come to Chitipa to hold a 2 day coaches and umpires course. Four young people from the Foundation had attended. We supported their efforts with trainers, training tops, t shirts, caps and netballs to take back to Chisenga. In Chitipa, 10 Young Netball Coaches attended the course and were presented with training tops. 

Since 2018, we have constructed six sets of netball posts which have been placed at these primary schools which are the main school in each cluster - CCAP, Isalikira, Chitipa Model, Kawale and Nachiwe. One set was placed at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation ground where coach Allan Nkhonjera trains his Chitipa Queen's team. Tony Mwanthanga from Charles Metal Work made the netball posts.     

2024

At the end of August 2024, Community Sports Leaders Africa funded a 7 day Netball Training Course. Allan Nkhonjera a locally qualified coach and Rowland Harawa, the Chitipa District Sports Officer held an initial 2 day course in each of the 4 'clusters of primary schools' with the aim of  to identifying young coaches with the potential and determination to set up an under 12 project.  Over 50 Young Coaches attended the training. Depending of the success and subsequent follow up activities after this initial course, we will provide support in terms of size 4 balls, bibs and age appropriate netball posts. 

A bid for a grant was made to FOMA Friend's of Malawi Association) in August to support with the construction of the netball posts. It was not accepted but funds were available to send more hoops from the UK and make 4 new sets of junior netball posts to replace some of the ones being used at the moment. 

In November 2024, Community Sports Leaders Africa decided to support the Chitipa Queen's netball team coached by Allan Nkhonjera. I knew Allan back in 1999 and he said it was me who had initially inspired him to take up netball coaching. He is currently the Vice President of the Malawi Netball Association of Coaches. Allan told me how he trains a squad of 30 girls three times a week and has several age groups including an U12 age group. That is the age group we are hoping to develop along the same lines as the football has developed. He raises all funds himself via asking local business and individuals to support. The Sports Office doesn't support financially or materially but just benefits from its success. He is certainly the man to develop U12 netball in Chitipa. I knew that his team were travelling to Mzuzu for the Regional Finals and I offered to pay the transport. Initially it was 40,000MK per player on the bus. He wanted to take 9 players plus himself. I sent the money via Western Union. Then he tells me he is taking a full squad of 12 players now and is hiring a mini bus. He has added the little extra. I asked if he would send me regular daily updates as the team prepares, travels and plays in Mzuzu. 

Allan was great and sent daily updates. Each of the eight districts in Northern Malawi sent a team. Chitipa were in group A and reached the semi finals by beating Kakumbi from Nkhata Bay and Karonga Sisters from Karonga. In the semi final they beat Malongo Sisters from Rumphi 45-41. In the final they lost 55-48 to Resource from Mzimba North. It was a great achievement and the girls sent a 'thank you' video. Now back in Chitipa, I challenged Allan to keep his 'dream' alive to develop U12 netball so that there would be as many Chitipa Queen's as possible in the future. He will need to be active and work with the primary schools, dedicated teachers and Young Coaches we have already trained. 

In the next shipment there will be a lot of balls, bibs, trainers and cones to support Allan's efforts in 2025. I had already bought 40 netballs. I put out a call for old bibs and trainers. I soon had 6 sets of bibs from Steph Cox at the local secondary school and over 30 pairs of really good trainers.   

2025

As 2025 begins we have big hopes for netball development in Chitipa this year. March will signal the end of the rains and the new season starts. Allan and Rowland are determined to make this happen and if they do the support will be there. In February, the Malawi Queen's netball team where in the UK for a competition with England, Uganda and South Africa. On Facebook I managed to get in contact with players Towera Vinkhumbo and Joyce Mvula. I know Joyce's sister Jane Mvula who lives in Chitipa. Joyce will play for the Leeds Rhino's this season. They both seemed very keen to support netball in Chitipa. Some positives messages were sent and received. 

In May, netball coach Allan Nkhonjera was supported to attend a Netball Association of Malawi Level 2 Coaching course in Mzuzu. The season had just started and Allan sent his first training session. He said he only has 2 balls at the moment. NAM also posted about the new launch of the Northern Region Netball League for 2025.  Netball Coach Allan Nkhonjera has started his twice weekly training sessions with an initial group of 10 potential Young Coaches. Rowland has also been getting involved. The idea is that these girls plus more will continue to train under Allan, hold their own supervised training with U12 girls and establish regular festivals. The resources to support them will arrive by September. 

A lot of positive things are happening around netball. Coach Allan Nkhonjera and Rowland Harawa are working hard as the netball season starts. NAM held a talent identification session in Chitipa and 5 of the Chitipa Queen's were selected to travel to Lilongwe for further training.  We are helping him attend a Level 2 Netball Coaching Course in Mzuzu in late April. We sent money via Western Union and a few days later 8 x 3 metre poles arrived in Chitipa from Lilongwe. Tony will weld the hoops on when they arrive in late August. The 9th and 10th of May is announced for the container loading dates, so the shipment should leave soon after.   

In August 2025 an attempt to rejuvenate school netball and encourage U12's, a meeting was held with the 17 primary schools and the 5 netball clubs in an attempt to rejuvenate U12 netball. The meeting was held and a committee formed. 20 size 4 balls are in the shipment. I challenged them to hold a basic training course as a prerequisite to receiving the balls. The schools and clubs were divided into 5 'clusters'. They would now plan an U12 competition in each cluster and the winners would meet in the zone final. It was a good idea. We also have 4 new sets of posts to place and it was decided where they would be place to support the U12 games. Within a week of me leaving Coach Allan Nkhonjera was holding a basic training session and I saw pictures.  The shipment arrived in mid September and the teams were invited to collect their size 4 balls. Only 7 came but the first U12 festival was arranged for October 11th. If teams attend then balls will be distributed. I had been trying to make Facebook contact with at least one coach or teacher from each team. I was even getting messages and pictures back which was great.  

The 11th of October saw the first U12 netball festivals around Chitipa town. Schools and clubs had been split into 5 'clusters' by the committee.  On festival day one committee member attended each festival to monitor events. 13 teams took part in 4 festivals. Only Lwakwa primary failed to attend their festival. In the MBC cluster which involved Chitipa Queens, Home Sisters, 11 Spanners and Twanda Pvt only 1 team attended so it had be cancelled. So in total 13 out of the 16 primary schools attended and only 1 out of the 5 clubs attended. The feedback from the committee and teachers was fantastic.   

In December there was a zone festival where a select team from each cluster played at the MBC ground. 17 Young Coaches and the 8 senior coaches who attended received trainers as an incentive.  Committee chair James Kilembe said the first term of the under 12 project had been a success. Plans were being made for term 2 events. I had been very impressed with James, his committee and netball coaches.