Malawi Schools boys’team off to flying start before
Malawi Schools National Boys’ Under-15 National Team yesterday fired warning shots with a 6-0 demolition of hosts Namibia and 4-0 thumping of Lesotho in their first two Group A matches at the Under-15 Cosafa Zone CAF Schools’ Qualifying Tournament in Walvis Bay.
The lads, who arrived a day before the tournament, defied an exhausting 2 780-kilometre road trip to the desert nation to get off to a flying start.
Okester Kanyenda was the centrepiece of Malawi’s victoryn over the hosts after claiming a hat-trick within six minutes.
Malawi got it over and done with in the first-half in which they led 5-0. They were in front three minutes into the match through Jeffrey Chikodzera’s strike.
Then Kanyenda went on to score three goals in the 12th, 16th and 18th minutes before Yasin Justin made it 5-0 at the dot of half-time,
Joel Yakobe struck the sixth in the second half.
Against Lesotho, Hajir Mukajir also claimed a hat-trick after scoring in the fifth, seventh and 18th minutes before Phillip Mwalwimba closed the score sheet in the 16th minute.
The boys side’s coach Moses Chimbetete said he was impressed with his charges’ performance.
“The boys played according to our game plans and I am optimistic that we’ll go far in this tournament. Our goal is to win the tournament and qualify for the continental competition,” he said.
The girls team played out a two-all draw against the hosts in their opening match.
Namibia took an early lead through Grace Eisis which was cancelled by Ethel Tambala a minute later. Malawi then went on to take the lead through Rabecca Banda, but the hosts pulled level through Eisis in the 10th minute.
The Malawi girls’ team thumped Lesotho 5-0 in their second match.
Ethel Tambala and and Enelesi Fabiano scored a brace each while Maireen Mataya scored the other goal.
Malawi’s final group match will be against Zambia today.
The top two teams in each pool will advance to the semi-finals, and only the victor who lifts the trophy will earn a place at the continental showpiece.
South Africa, who are in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Angola and E-swatini, are the defending champions in both categories.