Mary Waya

Mary Waya

Waya (GA, right) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Personal information
Born25 May 1968
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Netball career
Playing position(s): GA, GS
Last updated: 16 June 2011

Mary Waya (born 25 May 1968) is a Malawian netball player and coach. Waya started playing international-level netball at age 14, and has played in more than 200 representative matches for Malawi.[1][2] During that time she has competed in two World Netball Championships (1995 and 2007), three Commonwealth Games (1998, 2006 and 2010), and two World Netball Series (2009 and 2010).[3][4]

Waya came to international prominence during the 2007 World Championships in New Zealand, where the Malawian national team (the "Queens") finished 5th, their highest ever placing.[3] She announced her retirement after the tournament, but returned to international competition the following year.[2] She remains the national team's most high-profile player,[5] and was chosen as the flag bearer for the Malawi team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.[6]

After the 2010 World Series in Liverpool, Waya again announced her retirement from international netball, along with Queens veterans Peace Chawinga-Kalua and Esther Nkhoma.[7] She turned her attention to coaching, and later that year stepped into the role of head coach of the Malawi U-20 netball team.[8]

The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) held negotiations with the three retired players to try to convince them to return to the Queens. On 15 June 2011, the NAM announced that Waya had agreed to return to the national team,[9] along with Queens veterans Esther Nkhoma and Sylvia Mtetemela; Peace Chawinga-Kalua had earlier signed as assistant coach for the team. Media reports in Malawi indicated that the return of the three veterans players had caused major tension in the Queens squad, which led Waya to withdraw early from the squad's training camp.[10][11]

In domestic netball, Waya plays for the MTL Queens.[4] She was married to the late Bullets FC player Fumu Ng'oma, before they later separated; Waya and Ng'oma have two sons.[12]

She was named as the coach of the Tanzania National Netball Team in 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "England dances to Malawi's Waya tune again in Manchester". Nyasa Times. 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Garnham, Emily (2008-03-01). "Malawi's Mary Waya confirmed for test series". Daily Express. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Leggat, David (2007-11-14). "38-year-young role model leads Malawi's charge". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "2006 Commonwealth Games Athlete profile: Mary Waya (Malawi)". Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  5. ↑ Mlanjira, Duncan (2008-03-09). "Intriguing interest in Mary Waya". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Common Wealth Begins". Malawi Voice. 2010-10-03. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  7. ↑ Kanjere, Peter (2010-11-24). "Queens veterans retire". The Nation. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  8. ↑ Zakazaka, Gomezgani (2010-12-11). "Waya dreams big". The Nation. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  9. ↑ Chirwa, Garry (2011-06-15). "Netball veterans surprised by NAM's move". The Nation. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  10. ↑ Chibewa, Joe (23 June 2011). "New-look Queens resent veterans return (sic)". The Maravi Post. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  11. ↑ Ndovi, Joy; Malidadi, Mphatso (23 June 2011). "Mary Waya bolts camp". The Daily Times. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  12. ↑ Chinoko, Clement (2010-04-11). "Fumu Ng'oma's firm legacy". The BNL Times. Retrieved 2010-10-08.