The National Football Supporters Committee (NFSC) has mobilised fans across the country to give Ghana an ‘intimidating’ atmosphere in Lilongwe on Saturday.
From Blantyre, NFSC vice-chairperson Yona Malunga said a convoy of 20 minibuses carrying fans will travel to Lilongwe on the day of the match.
“We plan to arrive in Lilongwe at around 9am and link up with our fellow supporters in Lilongwe. Before going to the stadium, we plan to briefly camp at the visitors hotel just to show them what they are in for. People thought Flames cannot get the same support at Civo, but we plan to prove them wrong,” said Malunga.
He said they have been working closely with Lilongwe-based NFSC chairperson Zacharia Kasakula.
“They have organised gule wamkulu in Lilongwe and mobilised fans in an orgainsed way to cheer the team until the last whistle,” said Malunga.
In an interview, Kasakula said they have ben having meetings at Lilongwe Community Centre ground, planning Ghana’s dispatch.
“This time around, we are more organised than before and Civo will thunder until the end of the match. Ghana will be treated to a hostile attitude. We want to make them fail to play their usual game. It is all about intimidation. Supporters play an important part in ensuring that their team wins,” said Kasakula.
He, however, said there will be no wayward behaviour such as violence or anything to avoid bringing the game in disrepute.
“We have already made it clear that creating a hostile atmosphere does not mean violence. We will behave in a responsible manner. We will sing throughout the game. We have also emphasised that supporters must wear red attire,” said Kasakula.
“He said apart from gule wamkulu, they are also working with the Army Brass Band to escort the Flames to the venue,” he said.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said security will be tight on the day of the match and that people will be searched upon entering the stadium.
Meanwhile, Malawi Police Service (MPS) has said they will deploy 350 police officers around and inside Civo Stadium to ensure maximum security during tomorrow’s game.
Officer-in-charge for urban control command Foster Mangani said with Civo Stadium expected to fill to capacity (25 000), it was found necessary to have as many police officers as possible.
Mangani said this on the sidelines of the stewards’ seminar which he was facilitating at Civo Stadium.
The number of police officers to be deployed was arrived at after discussions with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), who had requested heavy police presence at the top-billed match.
