* If anything, it shows there’s a bit of panic in their camp — our focus is to stick to our strategy and execute it at Loftus Stadium—assistant coach Peter Mponda
* Ahead of very crucial moment of the qualifiers as winners will qualify for the CHAN finals in August to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi national football team assistant coach Peter Mponda said the technical panel is very well aware that after losing 0-1 in the first leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier last week, South Africa went back home and reinforced their squad ahead of the second leg to be played this afternoon at Loftus Stadium.
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“We’re not losing sleep over the changes they’ve made to their squad,” assistant coach Peter Mponda is quoted as saying by Fam.mw. “If anything, it shows there’s a bit of panic in their camp — our focus is to stick to our strategy and execute it at Loftus Stadium.”
This is a very crucial moment of the qualifiers as winners will qualify for the CHAN finals in August to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania — placed in Group C alongside Uganda, Niger, Guinea and Algeria, who beat The Gambia on Friday with a commanding 3-0, securing a 3-0 aggregate victory for the North Africans, who had held the Scorpions to a goalless draw in Bakau in the first leg of the playoff last week.
Assistant coach Mponda told Fam.mw that the technical panel, headed by Kalisto Pasuwa, is well aware of the threat Bafana Bafana pose playing at home by working on a formula to neutralise any threats.
“We are well-prepared. We’ve reminded the players not to get carried away by our 1-0 lead. We need to be cautious and strike a balance between attacking and defending. We haven’t come here just to defend, we have a clear game plan.”
First leg action at Bingu
The 1-0 lead is an advantage if the Flames will earn goals on away goal rule if they lose by a one goal margin after scoring one or more away goals.
After the triumph at Bingu National Stadium last Saturday, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya passionately implored on Malawians living in South Africa to rally behind the Flames, saying the triumph in Pretoria required more than tactical discipline on the pitch, emotional and vocal backing from the stands.
“This is not just another fixture it’s a defining moment in Malawi’s football resurgence,” he told Fam.mw. “With a one-goal advantage, the psychological and moral support from the diaspora could make all the difference.
“There’s no pressure on us — they’re the ones under pressure. Beating South Africa is motivation enough for our players. We just urge Malawians based in South Africa to come out in full force and support the team.”
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Fam.mw analyses that with a hungry young squad — arguably the cream of Malawi’s local crop — the Flames, have to show character and resilience under an expected hostile crowd.
Coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s traveling squad has:
Goalkeepers Richard Chimbamba (Nyasa Big Bullets) and George Chikooka (Silver Strikers);
Defenders McDonald Lameck, Nixon Mwase & Maxwell Paipi (Silver Strikers), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers), Andrew Jovinala & Alick Lungu (Nyasa Big Bullets);
Midfielders Yakho Singo, Lloyd Aaron, Chawanangwa Gumbo & Wongani Lungu (Nyasa Big Bullets), Charles Nkhoma (Moyale Barracks), Blessings Singini (Mighty Wanderers); and
Attackers Zeliati Nkhoma & Olson Kanjira (Kamuzu Barracks), Binwel Katinji (Silver Strikers), Wisdom Mpinganjira, Gaddie Chirwa & Promise Kamwendo (Mighty Wanderers) and Chikumbutso Salima (Nyasa Big Bullets).
