Mtawali to build confidence in Malata
Flames head coach Ernest Mtawali has said he will do his best to build confidence in the team’s vice-captain Lucky Malata ahead of a do-or-die 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Swaziland’s Sihlangu on September 6 in Mbabane.
Mtawali made the statement in reaction to a spate of costly blunders the last man in Flames’ line of defence has made so far, including in Sunday’s training match against Airtel Rising Stars Select at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
In that game, Malata easily lost the ball to striker Levison Maganizo, who capitalised on the blunder to round off goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa and put the Select side ahead before half-time. Nevertheless, the Flames came from behind to win the game 2-1.
“Malata is a reliable asset in the line of defence only that sometimes his mistakes are unbearable. We cannot go to our crucial encounter against Swaziland with such errors. I will do my best to build confidence in him before our departure for Swaziland,” Mtawali said.
This was the third time the Flames captain had made such a blunder on national duty.
During a recent 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe at Kamuzu Stadium in June, he misplaced a pass into the path of Khama Billiati, who sped off clear on the left to stab a shot into the top right corner of the goal. Zimbabwe won 2-1.
During the Cosafa Cup quarter-final against Mozambique in South Africa in May, he sliced a clearance past his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The game ended 2-2 in regulation time but the Flames lost 4-5 in post-match penalties.
