•FIJI attacker Unouna Afa Rusivakula tries to control the ball as Zambia defender Margret Mutafela (right) and Agness Chingambo keep guard during yesterday’s Sydney 2015 Netball World Championship preliminary round tie. Fiji won 59-51.

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE and SANDRA MWILA –
Fiji 59  Zambia 51
THE Government says Zambia’s dismal performance at the ongoing Sydney 2015 Netball World Cup must be a wake-up call for other national teams currently preparing for various international engagements to step up their game.
Zambia suffered her third straight defeat at the ongoing tournament after losing to Fiji to exit the preliminary round stage without a point.
The Zambian Queens exited the competition with three straight defeats suffered to Uganda, Wales and Fiji to drop into the second tier of the competition where they will face other losers to determine the finishing positions.
Sports Deputy Minister Ronald Chitotela said in an interview yesterday that the team should have put up a brave showing even though the laces were competing at the World Cup for the first time since 1999.
“We are not impressed with the team’s performance because we would have loved to see them put up a good fight and at least get eliminated from the competition with pride even if it was our (Zambia’s) first time to compete at such a level,” Chitotela said.
Chitotela said the Government was determined to provide equal support to all sports disciplines but that it expected athletes to pay back with positive results.
He implored the beleaguered netball team to draw positives from their participation at the global stage and aim high in future tournaments as Government would continue to offer support.
Chitotela said competing at the World Cup had earned the team enough exposure and experience to stand out and become a force to reckon with next time.
He said with the Congo Brazzaville 2015 All-Africa Games on cards next month, the Zambian contingent needed to prepare adequately to produce good results.
“I would like to urge all teams to prepare adequately for all international engagements. The netball team’s showing should be a wake-up call to the individual athletes and coaches. We need to prepare seriously,” Chitotela said.
Meanwhile, coach Charles Zulu said he was upset with the performance as he hoped Zambia would beat a less strong Fiji. He urged individual players to make amends during the ranking tournament.
“In fact, I am very upset that we failed to win any game, we made silly mistakes and the girls made bad decisions. They made bouncing passes which were not necessary. But not everything is over yet, we’ll still having the ranking competition where I hope we can raise our rankings,” Zulu said.
During the game, both the Pearls (Fiji) and Zambia played an aerial, physical game across the four quarters with each team relentless in defence.
Zambia’s defensive pairing of Margaret Mutafela and Agness Chingambo was impressive in keeping the Fijian shooters contained with moments of brilliance. However, they couldn’t stem the flow with Fiji eventually getting on top by the final whistle.
The Fijian Pearls goal shooter Taraima Mitchell expressed happiness with her team win and showered praises on the Zambian players.