By Suleman Chitera
Blantyre, Malawi – The highly anticipated 2025 FDH Premier Netball League kicked off in dramatic fashion today at the Blantyre Sports Arena, with defending champions Tigresses and last season’s runners-up, Pacers, both suffering shock defeats in their opening matches.
Vanessa Sisters Dominate Pacers
In the first match of the day, Pacers, a fan-favorite from Blantyre, faced off against the Central Region’s Vanessa Sisters. Despite a strong start, Pacers struggled to contain Vanessa Sisters’ sharp shooting and aggressive defense, ultimately falling 31-42.
Pacers’ captain, Grace Mwafulirwa, admitted her team’s slow adaptation to the opponents’ pace. “We made too many unforced errors, and they capitalized on every opportunity. We’ll go back, review our mistakes, and come back stronger,” she said.
Civonets Edge Tigresses in Nail-Biting Clash
The second match saw last season’s champions, Tigresses, take on the formidable Civonets in a high-intensity encounter. Tigresses fought hard, but Civonets’ precision in the final quarter sealed their 42-36 victory.
Tigresses’ coach, Jane Chimaliro, rued missed chances. “We had moments where we could have turned the game, but our shooting accuracy let us down. Credit to Civonets—they played a disciplined game.”
League Promises More Thrills
The FDH Premier Netball League, sponsored by FDH Bank to the tune of K1.2 billion over three years (K300 million per season), continues tomorrow with matches in Blantyre and Lilongwe.
Fans are already buzzing about tomorrow’s fixtures, where teams like Kukoma Diamonds and MTL Queens will make their debut. With the opening day delivering unexpected results, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet.
Will Tigresses and Pacers bounce back, or will underdogs continue to dominate? Netball fans won’t want to miss the action!
