As one way of improving netball standards in the country, Filbert Bayi netball team is in plans to recruit Malawian players, the team’s owner, former Olympic Games silver medalist Filbert Bayi, said yesterday

Speaking in a telephone interview in Dar es Salaam, Bayi said his team has enhanced their plans to beef up the squad and feels that Malawi players are good and could help the side to shine in the sport.

He added that his side wants to learn from the Malawi national team which is placed fifth on world FINA rankings.

Bayi said as a club which is in serious drive to revolutionize netball in the country they thought it would be wise to include players from Malawi whom he said have vast experience.

Bayi said his team is hoping to sign at least three Malawian players on loan.

"We feel Malawians can teach our players some skills and tricks. We hold Malawian netballers in high esteem, they are on top of the FINA ranking positions and also they have many netball development plans,” he said.

He, however, could not reveal his potential targets, saying the discussions are still going on at club level and once they through he will disclose the names of the players

Bayi also said that his team will offer short term deals to the players from Malawi, saying long term contracts would be difficult because there are no many netball tournaments in the country.

This will not be the first time that Bayi partnered with Malawian players.

Last year when the team competed at the national championship they signed Malawians Mary Waya and Takondwa Lwazi.

According to Bayi, his team is in a working relationship with National Association of Malawi (NAM) and Malawi Police netball team (the Blue Eagles).

Bayi also revealed that his team is offering scholarships to promising netball players, adding that currently his team has many players who were spotted during the Umiseta Games.

“We have many netball players at our club whom we spotted during the last year’s Umiseta Games. We are very impressed that the players are performing well and soon we will start banking on them,” he said.