National Sports

Flames miss good chance for preps

Flames in action on July 6 last year
Flames in action on July 6 last year

The Flames have missed an opportunity to prepare for Cosafa Castle Cup and the decisive 2014 World Cup final round qualifier against Nigeria following government’s change of plans not to include an international friendly on July 6. Usually, the Flames play a friendly match as part of independence celebrations and FAM arranges a game after being given a go-ahead by government.

But government changed its plans and has instead arranged a local game between TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers and runners-up Big Bullets. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu and Flames forward Esau Kanyenda said playing a friendly match on Independence Day would have been like killing two birds with one stone.

“It is a lost opportunity. No doubt about that, considering the tough competitive games we have ahead against Zimbabwe in the Cosafa Cup and the World Cup decisive qualifier against Nigeria.

“We had offers on table from countries such as Mozambique and Swaziland, who had shown interest to play us, only to be told that they had settled for a local game. “Maybe government is trying to do something new, but we have missed an opportunity,” said Nyamilandu.

On his part, Kanyenda said with Nigeria taking part in the Confederations Cup, which draws some of the world’s top teams, Flames would have benefited playing a friendly match on July 6. “It would have also provided a chance for South Africa-based players to feature as most of us would still be around on holiday,” he said.

Kanyenda, who has been a key member of the Flames for over a decade, said the Flames need to prepare thoroughly if they are to realise the dream of causing an upset in Nigeria.

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