No pressure on targets—Marinica

Flames coach Mario Marinica says he has no pressure despite missing two of the three targets set by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM).

When the association hired the Romanian on a year-long deal, it set qualification to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), 2023 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) as well as qualifying for the finals of the Cosafa Cup final as the coach’s targets.

But besides failing to go past the group stages at Cosafa, Marinica has also failed to guide the Flames to the Chan finals after being booted out at the last hurdle by Mozambique’s Mambas on away goal rule on Sunday.

Responding to a question on whether the situation puts him under pressure, the coach said: “I have time and again said that I don’t believe in pressure.

“Pressure is the state of the mind, it’s for people who work to put pressure on the table, not football.

“At the end of the day, its football and no one is there forever.”

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said the coach will be assessed accordingly upon the expiry of his contract.

“Let’s cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.

The Flames needed to win at all cost in the second leg against the Mambas, which ended goalless, after playing out a one-all draw at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe during the first leg.

Mozambique dominated the match and took advantage of the Flames midfield which was often caught off-guard and, for the better part of the match, failed to create meaningful chances.

Goalkeeper Brightone Munthali and the defence comprising Miracle Gabeya, Paul Ndlovu, captain Stanley Sanudi and Gomezgani Chirwa stood out to be counted.

Upfront, Schumacher Kuwali and, at a later stage, substitutes Lloyd Njaliwa and youthful Patrick Mwaungulu were effective, but clearly lacked supply from the midfield.

Marinica, who was initially hired as technical director, has a record of three wins, three losses and four draws.

He first took charge of the Flames at the delayed 2021 Afcon finals in Cameroon where he Malawi to their first-ever qualification into the knock-out stages.

The 58-year-old replaced Meck Mwase, who was relieved of his duties before being redeployed as Under-23 national team, which he turned down.

Marinica introduced his fast and very fast football philosophy which drew criticism from some quarters, arguing that the players were failing to adapt.

Football analyst Kevin Moyo said regardless of what Marinica might or might not achieve, the one-year contract is a short time for any national coach to build a formidable side.

He said: “The national team, normally plays few games in a soccer calendar.

 “Two to three years is a standard period for a national coach’s contract and it must be performance-based, so that if the coach does not perform to expected standards, he can be relieved of his duties.”