KEY POINTS:
True to form, the trouble-stricken Malawi Queens will arrive at the World Netball Championships with just a day to get ready for their opening showcase against champions New Zealand.
The Queens were stalled in South Africa on Tuesday after failing to get the right visas for their flight to Auckland.
Half of the team were expected to arrive in Auckland at midnight last night; the other half are due on another flight this afternoon. The delay will knock back their preparations for the opening match of the World Championships on Saturday night.
In 1999, Malawi were the last team to arrive at the championships in Christchurch - delayed and detoured by the damage of Hurricane Floyd, flying in at 2am of the first day of play. They also turned up without uniforms.
Yesterday's dilemma revolved around transit visas for a stop-off in Sydney. They managed to re-book flights out of Johannesburg yesterday.
The Silver Ferns were not worried about a possible no-show by the Queens yesterday. Netball New Zealand high performance director Tracey Fear said: "We understand they have alternative flights now, and we are looking forward to playing them on Saturday."
Australia have had to abandon their plans of a warm-up game against Malawi this morning.
Malawi also made a gaffe with accommodation for Auckland, with nowhere to sleep on the final night of the championships. However, a Herald story on their plight drew more than 40 offers of lodgings from compassionate Aucklanders and businesses. They now have somewhere to stay - when they finally arrive.
African cousins Botswana will be the last of the 16 teams entering New Zealand tomorrow afternoon. The debutants at this year's World Champs, Botswana also had travel issues to work through yesterday.
In 1999, they withdrew on the eve of the world tournament, denied government funding for the trip.
