Netball trainer spoilt for choice

Tanzania national netball team head coach Marry Protas is enduring a torrid moment to choose players who can join her squad as a result of abundance of talents seen at the ongoing league in Mbeya.

The coach has been stunned by the level of players much to his astonishment and she has confessed to experience a hard time to meet selection.

The netball association of Tanzania’s (CHANETA) acting secretary general, Rose Mkisi, said the tournament has galore of talented players.

The Sokoine Stadium is hosting the tournament that winds up on Monday.

Mkisi also singled out JKT Ruvu and Filbert Bayi Secondary School as teams which have displayed talents based on their playing style. She also hailed the teams for giving opportunity to young players.

“There are towering defenders, shooters and good centre players. I hope by the end of this tournament the country will have a formidable netball side,” she said.

However, Mkisi refused to comment on allegations that some umpires at the tournament are favouring clubs.

“What umpires are doing here is none of your business. You have nothing to do with Malawi umpires. If you want a story, you can write about the tournament only,” said Mkisi before cutting off the line.

Mkisi declined to comment on whether the two Malawian umpires are officiating in Mbeya or not.

The International Federation of netball Associations (IFNA) last website’s release indicted that CHANETA has hired two Malawian umpires namely Ellenour Ndekhatani Mapulanga and Rebecca Kawanga Dulanya to officiate the games.

“Congratulations to Malawian umpires Ellenour Ndekhatani Mapulanga and Rebecca Kawanga-Dulanya who have been invited to officiate at the national club championship in Tanzania. “

Dulanya was selected for the event after she impressed during the African Championship which was held in Tanzania almost four months ago.

Meanwhile, Mapulanga, a former Malawi Queens defender, caught Tanzania’s eye after she was voted as the best umpire during the Presidential Cup, said part of the weekly round up of IFNA .