By Stephanie Smarrelli
“I didn’t think, I’d play SSN again.”
That’s the honest truth from Mwai Kumwenda who was content to sit on the sidelines for 2025 after giving birth to her first child.
At peace with the decision, she extended her break from the Melbourne Vixens and signed on to return to her original Australian netball home, the Peninsula Waves in the Victorian Netball League.
While happy to bring her craft back to the VNL she was quietly optimistic another chance to play in the world’s best league would come her way.
So, when West Coast Fever head coach Dan Ryan came calling in need of a replacement for pregnant bookend Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Kumwenda only felt one emotion.
Elation.
“'I wanted to return to SSN,” she said.
“I was looking forward to finding the opportunity to one day play again, it’s the best league in the world.”
Kumwenda knew she wanted to return to SSN.
The 35-year-old was set on making a return at some stage, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy to break through to SSN again.
“Everyone is different, some people give up because it’s hard,” she said.
“But you have to try your best. If you work hard, it’s possible.”
A sentiment echoed by Fever’s Fowler-Nembhard who gave Kumwenda some words of wisdom.
“Jhaniele, this is her second child, she always comes and helps us at training, we talk, and she helps a lot,” Kumwenda said.
“She’s always saying: ‘MJ don’t give up, work hard, everything is possible.’”
As she prepares to don the Fever green, there’s one thing Kumwenda is most excited about when she returns to the court.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the Green Army at RAC Arena,” she said.
“I can’t wait to play with this team, they’ve been amazing since I’ve joined.”
With the rivalry between her former club the Vixens continuing to grow, Kumwenda is purely focussed on the task at hand.
The former Vixen can't wait to be in front of the Green Army.
“Fever is a great team, I like the new challenge,” she said.
“Fever are fast, I can’t wait to work with Olivia and Shanice and share my experiences as I learn from Dan and the girls.”
Having seen the passion from Fever’s supporter base firsthand as a Vixen making the trek into enemy territory, Kumwenda’s glad they’ll be cheering for her not against her this season.
“I’m happy, I’m playing with Fever, the Green Army are the best fans in SSN, I can’t wait to play in front of them,” she said.
“Our first home game is against the Swifts in April, it’ll be exciting, I hope the Green Army comes and supports us loudly.”
Originally from Malawi, Kumwenda’s story is remarkable, having picked up netball at the age of 11 she played with plastic bags moulded together using fire to create a ball and part of a car tyre to form a ring.
Having never forgotten her roots, Kumwenda regularly donates to her community, holding fundraisers to collect everything from clothes, books and first aid kits to netballs.
“People don’t know how lucky they are here in Australia,” she said.
“I always try to get things to bring back to Malawi to give back to my community because I know people here throw things away.”
While Malawi and Australia feel worlds apart, there’s been one thing reminding her of home since arriving in Perth.
Kumwenda often gathers donations to send home to Malawi.“I love Perth because the weather is the same as Malawi,” she said.
“The people here are very nice, I’m enjoying spending time with my teammates and learning new things."
But most of all, Kumwenda’s enjoying quality time with her son Maximus.
“Every time I come home, I say ‘I missed my kid’,” she said.
“Every time, I see him, he’s smiling at me, he's a very happy boy.
“I'm loving being a mum, it’s the best thing ever.”
