Joyce Mvula Clarifies Retirement Amid Surprise National Squad Inclusion

Malawi netball star Joyce Mvula has addressed her unexpected inclusion in the national squad, despite publicly announcing her retirement from competitive netball.

On January 26, Mvula announced her retirement after revealing on Facebook that she was pregnant. “I want to take a break, focus on my family and maybe later come back as a coach,” she stated.

However, on Saturday night, the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) released a provisional squad of 44 players selected nationwide for the Malawi Queens’ build-up to the 2027 Commonwealth Games, and Mvula’s name appeared on the list.

The inclusion surprised both the public and Mvula herself. “I was surprised to see my name in the squad after I had already announced my retirement,” she said. “While I appreciate that the coach still believes in me and selected me, I am not considering changing my decision to return to playing.”

Mvula, who has represented the Malawi national netball team since 2012, expressed disappointment over what she perceives as a lack of understanding regarding her decision. She revealed that NAM asked her to formally submit a resignation letter confirming her retirement, a move that caught her off guard.

“I am not a salaried player at NAM. I never had a monthly contract. We operated on a pay-as-you-go arrangement when we travelled for assignments, and we were paid allowances. That is how it has always been,” she explained. She also questioned why she was asked to submit a resignation letter when other prominent retired players, such as Mary Waya and Peace Chawinga, were never subjected to the same process.

Despite closing the chapter on her playing career, Mvula emphasized that she is not leaving netball entirely. She holds a coaching certificate and may consider serving the national team from the sidelines in the future. “I will announce if I decide to represent my country again, not as a player, but possibly as a coach,” she concluded.