FAM devises U-20 strategy for Zambia
FAM is not taking chances ahead of the crunch CAF Under-20 third and final round qualifying matches for the Junior Flames against rivals Zambia next month.
Camping for a month and tuning up against Lesotho is part of the strategy to see the Junior Flames through to the 2015 finals, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu and general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda disclosed yesterday.
“We have developed a good strategy. The team goes into camp after the independence celebrations. The coach requested that they be in camp for a month and we submitted our budget to government in the region of K45 million,” said Nyirenda.
The overall winner will book a place at the 2015 Africa Youth finals in Senegal. Malawi junior national teams always struggle against Zambians who have since stepped up preparations, including enlisting the services of senior coach Patrice Beaumelle.
“Lesotho are coming here on August 9 to face Malawi on August 16. Additionally, the Under-20 will play training matches against local clubs. We want to nurture this team and motivate the players,” Nyirenda added.
Since seeing off the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round 3-1 over two legs in May, the Ernest Mtawali boys have been inactive, raising fears that they might lose impetus.
Mtawali yesterday insisted that he was in the dark as to when his charges would regroup for the game against Zambia on the weekend of August 15 then the return two weeks later.
During the break, some players such as Miracle Gabeya is attending trials at Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa whereas others such as Abraham Kamwendo has not played at club level for two months due to his Mighty Wanderers’ dispute with former employer Blantyre United. Dalitso Sailesi is injured.
To qualify for the final round, Malawi Under -20 demolished DRC 3-1 on goal aggregate when drawing 1-1 at home and winning 2-0 away in May, having also previously dismissed Botswana in the first round.
“We have played Zambia before and I feel it will be a good game against the neighbours. All we need is to prepare fully like playing friendly matches before meeting them,” Mtawali earlier told the local media.
