Mary Waya

Mary Waya
20 March 2006: Waya (GA, right) playing for Malawi against Fiji at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Personal information
Born (1968-05-25) 25 May 1968 (age 56)
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Netball career
Playing position(s): GA, GS
Years National team(s) Caps
1984–2014  Malawi
Coaching career
Years Team(s)
2010–present Malawi U20
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.

In July 2022, Waya was announced as the new Namibia National Netball Team coach[13]

  1. ^ "England dances to Malawi's Waya tune again in Manchester". Nyasa Times. 11 October 2009. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b Garnham, Emily (1 March 2008). "Malawi's Mary Waya confirmed for test series". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b Leggat, David (14 November 2007). "38-year-young role model leads Malawi's charge". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  4. ^ a b "2006 Commonwealth Games Athlete profile: Mary Waya (Malawi)". Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  5. ^ Mlanjira, Duncan (9 March 2008). "Intriguing interest in Mary Waya". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 October 2009.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Common Wealth Begins". Malawi Voice. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Kanjere, Peter (24 November 2010). "Queens veterans retire". The Nation. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  8. ^ Zakazaka, Gomezgani (11 December 2010). "Waya dreams big". The Nation. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  9. ^ Chirwa, Garry (15 June 2011). "Netball veterans surprised by NAM's move". The Nation. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. ^ Chibewa, Joe (23 June 2011). "New-look Queens resent veterans return (sic)". The Maravi Post. Retrieved 24 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Ndovi, Joy; Malidadi, Mphatso (23 June 2011). "Mary Waya bolts camp". The Daily Times. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  12. ^ Chinoko, Clement (11 April 2010). "Fumu Ng'oma's firm legacy". The BNL Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  13. ^ Zgambo, Mike Lyson (22 July 2022). "Mary Waya appointed Namibia coach". Malawi 24. Retrieved 22 July 2022.