First leg action
* Obviously, when you have players that are not playing regularly in their teams and some of them without teams, we ended up conceding that odd goal in the last three minutes of the game
* But that did not make us feel bad about the team — we came out of that game with the best lessons that we needed to take into the next game
Maravi Express
Coach Molefi Ntseki is reported to have been “a happier man at training” on Thursday as he had received crucial reinforcements ahead of their African Nations Championship (CHAN) second leg qualifier against Malawi at Loftus Stadium tomorrow.
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South African Football Association’s media, SAFA.net. reports that Ntseki had Neo Maema, Ndumulelo Maphangule, Victor Letsoalo, Siyanda Msani, Simon Ramabu and Kamogelo Sebelebele in full swing — whose services the coach missed in the first leg last Saturday that Malawi won 1-0 at Bingu National Stadium.
The report further said the side played “a tough training match” against Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars at Loftus yesterday.
“I think the first one was us playing the game we played in Malawi and the plan was to get a goal and not to concede,” Ntseki is quoted as saying. “Unfortunately, we struggled with the game management.
Molefi Ntseki
“Obviously, when you have players that are not playing regularly in their teams and some of them without teams, we ended up conceding that odd goal in the last three minutes of the game. But that did not make us feel bad about the team.
“We came out of that game with the best lessons that we needed to take into the next game. And coming back to South Africa, we made requests to the clubs to release players, especially clubs that are not playing this weekend.
“So, we are aware that Chippa played Sundowns, Pirates played Golden Arrows, and then there is also the Nedbank Cup final this coming weekend.”
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Ntseki further said he was very happy when the clubs availed their players, and he now has a stronger and more balanced team ahead of Sunday’s clash.
“The teams responded very positive because they ended up sending six of the players that we needed in camp.”
Fam.mw reports that the Flames left this morning for Pretoria without Silver Strikers’ midfielder Zebron Kalima, who was ruled out of the squad due to a quadriceps muscle injury.
Coach Pasuwa
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).
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After the victory last Saturday through Zeliati Nkhoma’s later header at Bingu, coach Pasuwa emphasised that “the job is only half done [as] this is just the first half — We need to remain focused to finish the task in South Africa”.
The winner of the tie will secure a place in Group C of CHAN 2024, alongside Uganda, Niger, Guinea, and the winner of the other qualifier between Algeria and The Gambia.
