By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Central Region Netball governing body, overseeing the K24 million Mpico Gateway Mall Netball League, has issued a stern warning to teams, indicating that they will not tolerate any excuses as they gear up for the second round.
The body’s General Secretary, Yamikani Khungwa sent the warning on Saturday after the meeting held at Gateway Mall soon after they patronized final first round games.
Khungwa said in the first round some teams could give out lame excuses which made the committee to extend the period of the round with almost two weeks.
“Of course we have delayed to finish the first round with two weeks,as committee we will still stick to our time frame hence in the second round teams will be playing on Saturday’s and Sunday’s in the two courts unlike in the first round where they used to play on Saturday’s only. We will be having not less than 21 games per week.
“Indeed we had an executive meeting and among the agendas, we analyzed how we have faired in the first round as more teams participated than anticipated hence encountered numerous challenges,” she said.
Khungwa added, “Teams not honoring fixtures, supporters misbehaved during Civonets and Blue Eagles game hence to see how we can address them.
“The meeting was also vital as we are anticipating to meet with teams to map the way forward how best we can run the league in the second round”.
She added as Central region netball governing body they are expecting a stiffer competition as teams tremendously improved in the last games of the first round.
“Teams started on low note as they stayed longer without league but as first round matured teams improved hence we expect tough competition in the final round hence teams should prepare”, Khungwa added.
In the final day of the first round Young Eagles defeated Support Battalion soldiers 78-13 while Airbase registered the second win of the season over fellow strugglers Kamuzu Central Hospital 41-30.
Blue Eagles netball team finished on the summit of the league with 32 points from 16 games,Civonets are second with 30 points and young Eagles are third 28 points from 15 games.
Young Eagles play Airborne soldiers in the last game of the first round where as Kamuzu Central Hospital netball team take on Airborne.
The games failed to take place as Airborne was also participating in Salima Sugar National Netball league.