Junior Flames mess it up
Playing at home is supposed to be a plus, but for the Malawi Under-20 national team being at Kamuzu Stadium today once again proved to be a curse. And no one has answers.
The Junior Flames lost 2-1 to their Zambian counterparts. With that final qualifying round, first leg defeat, a flight to 2015 Senegal Africa Youth Championship finals appears a bridge too far.
The second leg awaits Malawi in Lusaka in two weeks when the overall winner will book a ticket to Senegal. And unless something drastic happens, the Junior Flames could miss the trip.
Today’s messy display breached Malawi coach Ernest Mtawali’s five-game unbeaten run that included two draws and three away wins. And he was equally clueless over the home struggles.
“It was our worst game. Really, I don’t know why. Every time we play at home, it is like the players don’t believe in themselves. We have got a mountain to climb, but nothing is impossible,” said Mtawali.
Yet before the game, save for the few noisy Zambian fans chanting Zambia Go! everything seemed perfect for the hosts. A cool breeze greeted the yawning stadium of deserted rows of seats.
Watching at the VIP Stand were guests such as Sports Minister Grace Chiumia, principal secretary Justin Saidi and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu. Yet it was the Junior Chipolopolo who settled the quickiest to win a corner in seconds.
The visitors’ efforts were duly rewarded after 12 minutes. Striker Larry Bwalya got to the end of a swift counter-attack hatched down the right wing, where Stanley Sanudi was disoriented, to place the ball past Malawi goalkeeper Brighton Munthali.
Zambia, who used their wing play, pace, physique and match fitness to great effect, soon realised that Sanudi was the Junior Flames’ weakest link and made inroads through Seith Sakala.
Unpoliced and unmatched in pace, Sakala made the second when, after leaving Sanudi off balance, danced his way past Malawi defence to square across the goal mouth for Charles Zulu to add the second in the 30th minute.
Somehow against the run of play, Malawi responded through Chawanangwa Kawonga’s expertly converted 36th minute penalty awarded after Zambia’s foul on midfielder Ernest Tambe.
Save for that goal, Kawonga was betrayed by his heavy first touch and height disadvantage. He seemed unable to escape the attention of Zambia big defenders, especially Alex Mwamba.
The midfield could not win the ball. Malawi was seconds slower on the ball. There was no pressing, but misplacing passes. Some passes were slow and backwards. The game suited the quicker visitors.
And every-time Sakala attacked, Malawi panicked. That was the story throughout the second half when, apart from speculative attempts for Malawi, it was skipper Munthali who single-handedly denied Zulu and Bwalya adding more goals.
He made unbelievable saves, including in dying minutes.
