Mabedi lauds youngsters
Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi says he is satisfied with his charges’ response to his style of play after coming from behind to hold Mozambique’s Mambas one-all yesterday at Zimpeto Stadium in Maputo, Mozambique.
In a match played in camera and monitored on www.fmf.co.mz, the hosts drew first blood in the 56th minute through UD Songo striker Stélio Marcelino Ernesto Telihno, but current TNM Super League top scorer Lanjesi Nkhoma cancelled the lead in the 74th minute.
Mabedi started Brighton Munthali in goals with defenders Stanley Sanudi, Denis Chembezi, Nickson Mwase and Alick Lungu.
Captain John CJ Banda led the midfield alongside Chimwemwe Idana and Yamikani Chester while Chawanangwa Kaonga, Richard Mbulu and Nkhoma formed a three-pronged striking force in a 4-3-3 formation.
Mabedi also made some changes in the second-half, introducing Gaddie Chirwa, debutant Chifundo Mphasi and Dominic Lloyd Njaliwa in place of Mbulu, Kawonga and Idana.
In a post-match interview, Mabedi said a draw was okay as this was the first time most of the players were playing together in his style of play.
He said: “I am very happy with the progress. As you know, we haven’t been playing together and you need to understand that Mozambique have been playing together.
“But we were even better in terms of technical and tactical awareness. Since it was our first game, a draw is okay and I am very happy.
“In the first-half, I started with experience and later introduced the youngsters and you could see the difference. We were even supposed to score more goals.
“They were more creative and you could see even the decision- making. We need to continue believing and trusting them.”
On the goal which Malawi conceeded, Mabedi said the youthful team still has a lot to learn as he is rebuilding the Flames.
He said: “Football is like fixing the road. The rain will come and mess up and then you go back and fix it again. So, we still need to work on certain areas. We know how we conceded the goal. It’s a tactical way. It was our corner and our full back Alick Lungu was taking it and they capitalised on that and scored on the counter.”
But Mabedi said he was impressed with the team’s response after conceding as the youngsters fought hard to equalise through Nkhoma.
The FCB Nyasa Bullets forward said he was thrilled to score in his first international match.
He said: “I thank God and my teammates for the goal. It has given me motivation to work harder.”
The Flames were tuning up for the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia to be played at the same venue on July 20.
