Malawi National Netball Team co-coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa said the side needs to build a strong depth ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Despite producing an improved performance, the Queens anchored the four-team Vitality Nations Cup 2025 in the United Kingdom.
Chawinga – Kaluwa said time was ripe to improve the team’s depth to overpower their counterparts.
“We need to have players who are equally able to contest in matches like these, which will help the camp to be competitive and coaches would not struggle,” she said.
Chawinga-Kaluwa said they will scout for raw talent to rebuild the Queens.
“So, we are going back to rural areas where we can start the rebuilding phase and get players who have got height [tall] to come in so that by next year when we arrive at the African Games towards the Commonwealth Games, we should be able to come out and compete,” she said.
Chawinga-Kaluwa said it was unfortunate that the Queens lost to Uganda to finish at the bottom of the table.
“We lost our final game against Uganda which we would have loved to win at all cost but, unfortunately, we lost.
“But there are many positives we have gained from this game and the series. We came here with a plan and the plan was to see the improvement which we have started, and we have seen that in each and every game, we are improving and the girls played fantastically. We are going back with heads high to improve from there. We have lost in terms of scores but we have won in terms of improving the team,” she said.
The Queens lost their opening game to hosts and eventual champions England 62-36 before recovering to chalk their first win over Uganda since 2019 when they won 59- 45.
In spite of putting up an impressive performance against South Africa, the Queens narrowly lost 58- 55.
It was a remarkable feat as the Queens have been losing by not less than 20 baskets in their four previous meetings against the Spar Proteas.
In a third-place play-off, the Queens lost 45-50 to the She Cranes.
During the tournament, new face Ethel Ng’ambi impressed in attack whereas improvised goalkeeper Tendai Masamba was equally outstanding.
The Queens have embarked on a rebuilding exercise with support from their sponsors Nico Group.
Nico Holdings Corporate Affairs Manager Mbumba Mlia-Ndasauka, who was part of the Queens’ delegation, said they were impressed with the team’s progress.
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