{{short description|Malawian netball player and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox netball biography |name = Mary Waya |image = File:Mary Waya 2006.jpg |caption = ''20 March 2006: Waya (GA, right) playing for [[Malawi national netball team|Malawi]] against [[Fiji national netball team|Fiji]] at the [[Netball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Commonwealth Games]]'' |updated = 16 June 2011 <!-- Personal information --> |fullname = |maidenname = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|05|25|df=yes}} |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |height = {{height|m=1.62}} |school = |university = |occupation = |relatives = |spouse = |marrieddate = |children = <!-- Netball career --> |positions = GA, GS |nationalyears1 = 1984–2014 |nationalteam1 = {{nb|Malawi}} |nationalcaps1 = |coachyears1 = 2010–present |coachteam1 = Malawi U20 <!-- Medal record --> |medaltemplates = }} '''Mary Waya''' (born 25 May 1968) is a [[Malawi]]an [[netball]] player and coach. Waya started playing international-level netball at age 14, and has played in more than [[Cap_(sport)#Netball|200 representative matches]]<!--CAN'T IMAGINE THESE ARE ALL TEST CAPS, THOUGH--> for [[Malawi national netball team|Malawi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=England dances to Malawi's Waya tune again in Manchester |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/sports/england-dances-to-malawi%e2%80%99s-waya-tune-again-in-manchester.html |date=2009-10-11 |work=[[Nyasa Times]] |accessdate=2009-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015071948/http://www.nyasatimes.com/sports/england-dances-to-malawi%E2%80%99s-waya-tune-again-in-manchester.html |archive-date=15 October 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Garnham>{{cite news |last=Garnham |first=Emily |date=2008-03-01 |title=Malawi's Mary Waya confirmed for test series |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/36436/Malawi-s-Mary-Waya-confirmed-for-test-series# |work=[[Daily Express]] |accessdate=2009-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011031944/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/36436/Malawi-s-Mary-Waya-confirmed-for-test-series |archive-date=11 October 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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).<ref name=Leggat>{{cite news |last=Leggat |first=David |date=2007-11-14 |title=38-year-young role model leads Malawi's charge |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/netball-world-championships/news/article.cfm?c_id=511&objectid=10475939 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=2009-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021134735/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/netball-world-championships/news/article.cfm?c_id=511&objectid=10475939 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=M2006>{{cite web |title=2006 Commonwealth Games Athlete profile: Mary Waya (Malawi) |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=109400 |accessdate=2009-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804123137/http://melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=109400 |archive-date=4 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Career == ===As a netball player=== Waya came to international prominence during the [[2007 World Netball Championships|2007 World Championships]] in New Zealand, where the [[Malawi national netball team|Malawian national team]] (the "Queens") finished 5th, their highest ever placing.<ref name=Leggat/> She announced her retirement after the tournament, but returned to international competition the following year.<ref name=Garnham/> She remains the national team's most high-profile player,<ref>{{cite news |last=Mlanjira |first=Duncan |date=2008-03-09 |title=Intriguing interest in Mary Waya |url=http://www.sundaytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=453 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |accessdate=2009-10-19 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and was chosen as the flag bearer for the Malawi team at the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] in Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Common Wealth Begins |newspaper=Malawi Voice |url=http://www.malawivoice.com/latest-news/common-wealth-begins/ |date=2010-10-03 |accessdate=2010-10-04 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kanjere |first=Peter |title=Queens veterans retire |newspaper=[[The Nation (Malawi)|The Nation]] |url=http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9938:queens-veterans-retire&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31 |date=2010-11-24 |accessdate=2010-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723220659/http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9938:queens-veterans-retire&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
In domestic netball, Waya played for the MTL Queens.<ref name=M2006/> She was married to the late [[Big Bullets|Bullets FC]] player Fumu Ng'oma, before they later separated; Waya and Ng'oma have two sons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chinoko |first=Clement |title=Fumu Ng'oma's firm legacy |newspaper=The BNL Times |url=http://www.bnltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2966 |date=2010-04-11 |accessdate=2010-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308000610/http://www.bnltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2966 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ===As a netball coach=== She turned her attention to coaching, and later that year stepped into the role of head coach of the Malawi U-20 netball team.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zakazaka |first=Gomezgani |title=Waya dreams big |newspaper=[[The Nation (Malawi)|The Nation]] |url=http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11002:waya-dreams-big&catid=166:eds-letter&Itemid=159 |date=2010-12-11 |accessdate=2010-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723220011/http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11002:waya-dreams-big&catid=166:eds-letter&Itemid=159 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
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,<ref>{{cite news |last=Chirwa |first=Garry |title=Netball veterans surprised by NAM's move |newspaper=[[The Nation (Malawi)|The Nation]] |url=http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21221:netball-veterans-surprised-by-nams-move&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31 |date=2011-06-15 |accessdate=2011-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724105456/http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21221:netball-veterans-surprised-by-nams-move&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chibewa |first=Joe |title=New-look Queens resent veterans return (sic) |publisher=The Maravi Post |url=http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-politics/society/5334-new-look-queens-resent-veterans-return.html |date=23 June 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Ndovi, Joy |author2=Malidadi, Mphatso |title=Mary Waya bolts camp |newspaper=[[The Daily Times (Malawi)|The Daily Times]] |url=http://www.bnltimes.com/sports/46-all/1611-mary-waya-bolts-camp.html |date=23 June 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625230452/http://www.bnltimes.com/sports/46-all/1611-mary-waya-bolts-camp.html |archive-date=25 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zgambo |first=Mike Lyson |date=2022-07-22 |title=Mary Waya appointed Namibia coach |url=https://malawi24.com/2022/07/22/mary-waya-appointed-namibia-coach/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2024, the choice was to have co-coaches for the Malawian national team of Waya and [[Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa]].<ref name=sachd>{{Cite web |last=Chirwa |first=Garry |date=2024-12-21 |title=Ex-Queens coach snubs NAM, takeslegal action |url=https://mwnation.com/ex-queens-coach-snubs-nam-takeslegal-action/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Nation Online |language=en-US}}</ref> Chawinga-Kaluwa had previously been the Malawian coach before [[Joanna Kachilika]], who the two replaced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zgambo |first=Mike Lyson |date=2022-07-22 |title=Mary Waya appointed Namibia coach Malawi 24 {{!}} Latest News from Malawi |url=https://malawi24.com/2022/07/22/mary-waya-appointed-namibia-coach/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa and Waya announced a twelve person team for the [[2025 Netball Nations Cup]]. They chose six new names and six experienced players, who were [[Joyce Mvula]], [[Takondwa Lwazi|Takondwa Lwazi-Chiwaya]], [[Towera Vinkhumbo]], [[Grace Mwafulirwa|Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango]], [[Thandi Galeta]] and [[Martha Dambo]].<ref name="mwn270125">{{Cite web|url=https://mwnation.com/queens-to-warm-up-against-british-army/ |title=Queens to warm up against British Army|publisher=mwnation.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127164623/https://mwnation.com/queens-to-warm-up-against-british-army/|archive-date=27 January 2025|date=27 January 2025|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waya, Mary}} [[Category:Malawian netball players]] [[Category:Malawian netball coaches]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Malawi]] [[Category:Netball players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Netball players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Netball players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:1968 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Malawi international Fast5 players]]