Flames to face Mozambique

In a dramatic twist of events, government has made a U-turn on its earlier decision to arrange a football match involving local teams as part of the country’s Independence Anniversary Celebrations on July 6.

Instead, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) was instructed to promptly arrange an international friendly match and the Flames will host Mozambique’s Mambas.

A well-placed source confided in the Nation on Sunday that it took President Joyce Banda’s directive through the Ministry of Youth and Sports to change the arrangement.

“The State President was not amused when she learnt that the ministry had arranged a local game [between Big Bullets and Silver Strikers] when the tradition has been that the national team plays on such occasions.

“She, therefore, instructed the ministry to arrange an international friendly match,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana and FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed the development yesterday.

Said Chihana: “After careful consideration, we thought it would be wise to arrange an international game, looking at the significance of the event and considering that the game will also help the Flames prepare for the Cosafa Castle Cup.

Nyirenda also confirmed that Mozambique had accepted the invitation.

“We approached our friends in Mozambique who accepted as the match will also help them prepare for the Cosafa tournament,” said Nyirenda.n