Net Gains: Malawi Queens feud; Diamonds reinforce Netball World Cup security in South Africa

The Malawi Queens have become the Drama Queens after a feud erupted between team members and Vixens star Mwai Kumwenda. Check out all the World Cup news in Net Gains.

The Malawi Queens might need to be renamed the Drama Queens after an internal feud involving Melbourne Vixens star Mwai Kumwenda reached the highest levels of the country's government.

Vixens star Kumwenda became the centre of controversy in Cape Town on Sunday after her teammates – minus their Super Netball star – took to social media to explain their loss to England on Saturday.

In video posted to Twitter, captain Jane Chimaliro and her players explain their defeat to England, apologising to fans for the defeat before going on to explain why they lost.

And Kumwenda takes much of the blame.

In a translation of the video seen by CODE Sports, Chimaliro acknowledges Kumwenda as a great player but said the Vixens goaler had refused to enter the game when asked by the coach.

Gaudion and Browne discuss the bizarre divide that has emerged within the Malawi team, with star Mwai Kumwenda.

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Malawi fans had blasted coach Sam Kanyenda for not playing Kumwenda, prompting the video from her Queens teammates.

“It’s not true (the coach would not put her on), she is the one who refused to play and we are disappointed because she is our professional and Malawi depends on her,” Chimaliro said.

Given the video was posted by the whole team except Kumwenda though, it highlighted a massive split in the camp.

The ugly brouhaha prompted a phone call to the team from the country's head of state ahead of their final preliminary round contest against Barbados on Sunday – a match Kumwenda played in its entirety, scoring 42 goals.

The Malawian ambassador was also sent to Cape Town from Johannesburg ahead of Sunday's match and the national body also released a statement ahead of Sunday’s clash with Barbados saying they had “noted with concern the unfortunate development in the Queens camp currently in circulation on social media”.

After “assuring the nation the situation is being managed”, the statement from the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) went on to say the players were ”ready to die for mother Malawi”.

Speaking post match Mwai Kumwenda denied that there is any Malawi team disunity, and said that she hasn’t seen the clip posted online by her teammates blaming her for yesterdays loss against England. Sure to be more to follow this n this topic. pic.twitter.com/ZIPBYrFBYH

— Jenny Sinclair (@summerhill1003) July 30, 2023

Kumwenda confirming in a television interview following the England match she “couldn't get in” the game when asked to sub in two minutes before the end of the second quarter for injured goal shooter Joyce Mvula.

“Two minutes is hard. A professional player like me to get in, two minutes is very hard. I need to warm up and to have more time,” Kumwenda said in an interview with Wa Ganyu TV posted to YouTube.

By Sunday though, Kumwenda and her teammates were also insisting the Queens camp was a happy family, with coach Kanyenda writing it off as a “family squabble”.

“There is nothing wrong,” Kumwenda said.

“We need to share (time on the court). Everyone represent for our country … so every time we need to share on the court for the girls. That was the game plan from the coach.”

Kumwenda insisted she had not seen the post from her teammates.

“I need to see what's going on because if I make something wrong in the camp, they should communicate with me.

“But I'm just part of the team.”

But Chimaliro insists Kumwenda has seen the video.

“She saw that video and we have discussed it,” Chimaliro said.

“It's water under the bridge. We’re just focusing now for the next game.”

Kanyenda said as a family, the team had “squabbles” once in a while.

“Then we sit down, then you settle your squabbles and then you forge ahead and say, well, what is the bigger picture?” he said.

“We've come here for the tournament and that’s what we’re going forward for.”

SECURITY A FOCUS

Australian officials are taking security extremely seriously in Cape Town, employing a security official to work with the team for the duration of the tournament.

While Jamaican veteran Jhaniele Fowler’s social media post about having money stolen and an attempted break-in at the team’s accommodation sparked safety fears, the Diamonds had already added their own layers of protocol to the official recommendations.

All teams have two undercover police with them while in South Africa but the Diamonds also have a private security official, who also briefed families on safety practices before they left Australia.

Netball Jamaica released a statement on Friday following Fowler’s social media post assuring the public the team was safe and in good spirits.

Authorities are still investigating the theft, reportedly of about $US500 from two players, including West Coast Fever shooter Fowler, while security around the team hotel – a different property from where the Diamonds are staying – has been beefed up.

Jhaniele Fowler (C) was robbed in South Africa. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty

CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS

The Diamonds will implement a strict concussion protocol at the World Cup, with Australian team doctor Laura Lallenec performing SCAT (Sport Competition Anxiety Test) testing on any player who leave the court for a head knock, in addition to them being assessed by the neutral medical officer.

All Australian players have baseline SCAT results that Lallenec can refer to in a test that will take 7-10 minutes to determine whether a player is fit to return to the court.

Any player who is ruled to have sustained a concussion will be sidelined for 12 days – the World Netball and Netball Australia standard – ruling them out of the remainder of the tournament.

It’s a situation that would trigger the injection of one of the squad’s travelling reserves, who would be available for the following match.

Australia will implement strict concussion protocols. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty

WILL SSN CLUBS TARGET ROSES PLAYERS?

The closure of the Super Netball signing window until after the World Cup will ensure coaches and agents are keeping a close eye on the action in Cape Town.

The window for the first round of signings has closed in England but there could yet be room for movement.

It’s reportedly rare, but some English Superleague contracts do include Super Netball get-out clauses.

Don’t be surprised to see a few more Roses hitting our shores for the 2024 season – even if they’re seemingly already signed to play in England in 2024.

PRICES IMPACT CROWDS

Ticket prices for the World Cup seem to be having an impact on the crowds, with hundreds of empty seats at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for matches not featuring the South Africa.

At about $AUD70 for a two-game session, the price is prohibitive for many in South Africa and despite fans for each country travelling from around the world, the stands are far from full.

The Silver Ferns started their title defence in front of just a few hundred fans on Friday, with ticketing and logistic issues also keeping some fans locked out of the stadium.

Some Aussies on travel packages only received their tickets on the morning of the first match, while fans attempting to buy tickets outside the venue also had issues, with many, including the husband of Silver Ferns defender Jane Watson.

It’s doing nothing to dint the enthusiasm of locals and fans of the four African teams present, who are chanting, singing and dancing their way through the games.

But cheaper prices to the preliminary rounds in particular, would have ensured the party atmosphere was present for every match.

Ticket prices have seen small crowds in South Africa. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

DIAMONDS NOT FOREVER

Former Diamond Mo’onia Gerrard highlighted an interesting stat when she lined up against her old side playing for Tonga on Saturday.

The 42-year-old played 68 games in the green and gold dress, more than any Diamonds player she lined up against.

Covid had an impact on that, with the Diamonds playing no Tests in 2020 and only four in 2021 after their series against the Roses was cancelled due to border closures.

But skipper Liz Watson equalled that mark when she played her 68th Test against Fiji on Sunday, while Courtney Bruce played her 63rd game on Sunday and Jo Weston her 60th.

Coach Stacey Marinkovich has a mix of youth and experience in her side but has no indication from any players – other than Ash Brazill, who will retire after this tournament – about their plans ahead of the next World Cup in Sydney in 2027.

“We certainly continue to select based on performance and obviously we like to consolidate combinations and make sure that we keep bringing our depth through at the same time,” she said.

“I’m sure that there will be players across this group that will be here for a while longer and then others are at different points in time.

“But it’s not like you go a four-year cycle and then you’ve got to completely change up thinking four years ahead, it’s a transitional thing.”

HAS OZ SEEN LAST OF CENTURIAN?

South Africa’s Karla Pretorius celebrated her 100th Test on Saturday night in front of a home crowd including husband Werner and daughter Kara.

The Sunshine Coast Lightning defender was the player of the tournament in 2019 and returns in 2023 in outstanding form once again despite a year off in 2022 to have her daughter.

What the future holds for Pretorius is the question though. With every Super Netball player off contract and rumours Fever defender Courtney Bruce could be headed to Queensland, have we seen the last of Pretorius in Australia?

Originally published as Net Gains: Malawi Queens feud; Diamonds reinforce Netball World Cup security in South Africa