We were below par—Mtawali

Coach Ernest Mtawali has admitted that the Flames performance against Airtel Rising Stars’ select side was below par. He said it has given him and his deputy Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan plenty food for thought ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Swaziland’s Sihlangu.

The Flames survived the youthful select side’s scare when they came from a goal down to win 2-1 in a training game at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.

“It was a training game, but everything we are doing now is in readiness for the Swaziland game and if we cannot show the hunger in a training game, then what other platform are we going to do that?

“It was a disappointing performance, especially in the first half. We knew these boys would come hard on us to prove a point and that is where we needed to show mental character,” said the Flames mentor.

Nevertheless, Mtawali said the game was part of the process to identify the cream that will be joined by foreign-based players.

“We will need to take players that are ready to fight their lungs out and by the end of this week we would have done that, there is no need to panic,” he said.

LevisonMaganizo, who plays for Fisd Wizards, gave the Airtel Select side the lead in the first half when he capitalised on captain Lucky Malata’s defensive error and then sold him a dummy, leaving him embarrassingly in his wake before rounding off goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa to score.

The Flames then came full throttle in the second half after substituting almost the entire side and levelled the scores through ManaseChiyesa before Yamikani Chester claimed the winner.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said the Flames are scheduled to camp in South Africa from this Sunday to Friday September 4 in preparation for the Swaziland game.

FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said the move could be cost-effective as foreign-based players will join the team there.

“We are talking to partners who have shown commitment to host us, but there is nothing concrete yet. But even in the event that it does not work, we feel it will be imperative that we camp there,” he said.

The FAM GS also said they expect all the foreign-based players to be released by their respective teams on Sunday as per Fifa rules. He said Mtawali and Ramadhan are expected to name the list of foreign-based players by Wednesday.