Netball World Cup 2023: Mwai Kumwenda, Malawi, team, bizarre video, controversy, divide, blame, Malawi Queens vs England Roses, benched, refuse to take the court

A bizarre divide has emerged within the sixth ranked netball team Malawi, with Melbourne Vixens star Mwai Kumwenda caught up in the controversy.

Kumwenda, who was the Vixens star shooter in the 2020 Super Netball premiership win and a key member of the team that reached the grand final in 2022, reportedly refused to take the court against England when asked on Saturday.

To make matters worse, teammates then made a video and posted it to social media, appearing to put blame on the Vixens star for their 62-39 loss to the Roses.

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The video, which did not feature Kumwenda, has been widely shared on social media in truly bizarre scenes from Cape Town and described by Hannah Hollis as a “mutiny”.

“The Malawi Queens have basically come out on Twitter and based off the loss to England, almost blaming Mwai Kumwenda for the fact that she was asked to take the court just shy of the half time break and refused to come on court,” Fox Netball’s Sue Gaudion said.

“They are not happy.

“A bit of distrust and fall out in the camp.”

It has been reported Kumwenda was asked come on for the final two minutes of the second term and told coaching staff it was not “enough time” to have an impact, so she did not take the court.

She then remained benched until the final quarter, but by then England had opened up a 19-goal lead.

Kumwenda shot eight goals at 80% in the final term when she did come on as goal attack.

“It’s sad to see them got to Twitter and air this dirty laundry in this way,” Fox Netball’s Madison Browne said.

“The coach has stated they want to use her as an impact player.

“We know she’s a superstar player and loves to play.

“There’s two sides to the story.”

Kumwenda spoke on the ordeal post-match to media outlet Wa Ganyu, explaining why she did not come onto the court late in the second term.

“Two minutes is hard,” she explained.

“A professional player like me, to get in, two minutes is very hard - I need to warm up and to have more time.”

Kumwenda has played limited minutes for the Queens in the opening two games of the Netball World Cup.

Netball Association of Malawi technical director Sam Kanyenda opened up on the “disagreement” which emerged during the loss to England.

He said it was always the plan to have Kumwenda start on the bench in a bid to keep her fresh to come on against a tired England defence.

“We know England is a strong team … a few things went wrong,” he told Wa Ganyu.

“We plan to use the captain Jane Chimaliro in the first quarter so she could wear down to the English defence and then introduce Mwai in the second quarter.

“But we had so many things (go wrong).

“We still have a few different things to discuss.”

In a statement later posted on Malawi’s social media, the nation’s netball general secretary said the conflict was being “managed”.

“We have noted with concern the unfortunate development in the Queens camp currently in circulation on social media,” Isaac Chimwala said.

“NAM would like to assure the nation that the situation is being managed.

“We have out next game against Barbados and the players are ready to die for mother Malawi.”

It’s not the first controversy Malawi has been caught up in this World Cup, with Takondwa Lwazi the first player sent off the court in round one.

Defenders Loreen Ngwira and Towera Vinkhumbo were both given cautions for their actions in the clash against England, with Ngwira even taking herself off the court at one point in the third term.