Flames inactivity worries Marinica
Flames coach Mario Marinica has bemoaned the harsh reality that they will have to do without friendly matches in preparation for back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ (Afcon) qualifiers against Egypt next March due to financial constraints.
He was reacting to the Pharaohs recent friendly match against the world’s number two ranked Belgium which Egypt won 2-1 just before the 2022 Qatar World Cup kicked off.
He said: “Among many other factors, winning football matches requires good preparations, including friendly matches to test your strength.
“But that’s life, not fair, but what else can we do? We are who we are and we have to deal with what we have.”
The Romanian, nevertheless, said he appreciates efforts by Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to come up with an alternative.
He said: “I know how hard FAM is trying to assist and I remain very positive as I know that Saudi Arabia will assist us with a training camp before the Egypt double.
“I know that it won’t be easy, but I believe in our players’ potential, too.”
On his part, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said: “As much as we are not active due to funding constraints, we are taking this as an opportunity to recharge and regroup with renewed energy and vigour.
“We will have an intensive programme prior to the matches against Egypt.”
Football supporter Yona Malunga yesterday described the development as sad.
He said: “If the Flames do not prepare well for the qualifiers, then our hopes for our first-ever Fifa World Cup finals are up in smoke. You cannot play against big teams such as Egypt without having international friendlies.”
Egypt are ranked 39th in the world and sixth in Africa and the Flames are on 124th in the world and 35th in Africa.
Malawi are expected to camp in Saudi Arabia for two weeks next January, courtesy of the Saudi Arabia FA.
The Flames are second in their group with three points from two matches, having won their first match against group leaders Ethiopia’s Walyas 2-1 before going down 1-0 to Guinea’s Syli Nationale.
Ironically, all the four teams in the group have three points apiece.
FAM exhausted its K210 million allocation from government for the Flames for the current financial year.
They also got about K282 million additional funding for Cosafa Cup and Africa Nations Championship participation.
As the Flames are still searching for the World Cup qualification, Egypt have done it thrice with the last time coming in 2018. They were the first African nation to qualify for the global showpiece in 1934.
Egypt boast of star players with the majority of them playing for top league clubs in Europe as well as in Africa while Malawi’s talismanic striker Gabadinho Mhango plays for South Africa top-flight team AmaZulu with Francis Madinga plying his trade for FC Dilla Gori in Georgia while Charles Petros turns out for FC Sheriff of Moldova.
