SWIM-OR-SINK

Footbal Association of Malawi (FAM) yesterday acted swiftly to persuade the Flames to have their final training session after they had threatened to go slow ahead of this afternoon’s swim-or-sink 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Stars.

The Flames arrived in time for training at Kamuzu Stadium, but were reluctant to take to the turf unless FAM addressed them on the issue they raised on the need to review their allowances.

The players wanted an assurance from FAM on whether they would get K100 000 (US$314) each if they beat the Harambee Stars to keep their final phase qualification hopes on the boil.

After a fruitful lengthy meeting with FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda and accountant Christopher Mdolo held at Sports Council boardroom, the players softened their stand and went for training at around noon.

But in a typical window dressing, captain Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo and Nyamilandu played down the issue, insisting that it was a small administrative matter.

The ever upbeat Flames captain said the players were committed to national cause.

“The meeting we had with the [FAM] president will not divert our focus in any way.

“There was no controversy only that the players wanted an assurance regarding the issues that we raised sometime back relating to our incentives. We felt there would have been no better time to meet him than now since most of us are based abroad,” said Kamwendo.

He also declared that the Flames will come out victorious this afternoon.

“It will not be easy, but we are determined, very determined because we need this game more than they [Kenya] do as they have nothing to lose.

“Malawians should expect fireworks tomorrow [today] and we’ll win,” said Kamwendo.

Nyamilandu, appearing calm, pledged that the association will give the players an extra K70 000 (US$220) each on top of their normal K30 000 (US$94) should they conquer Kenya.

“We understand the stakes that are at hand and we have made changes by more than doubling the incentives. We have come up with a special package specifically for this game.

“It’s not enough, but it is sufficient and we are satisfied with the outcome of the discussions we had with the players. The reason they thought of meeting us today was because they felt there would have been no better time for negotiations,” he said.

He also said discussions relating to their allowances are ongoing.

Caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo said the coaching panel has been working on fire-power which was the team’s weakest link.

“I would say in terms of preparations, so far so good. I have told the players to sweat blood and treat the game as a cup final. They must have a winning mentality so that Malawians should leave the stadium a happy lot tomorrow [today],” he said.

However, the Flames mentor could not be drawn to comment on the game plan. But the Flames are most likely to start with an all-out 4-3-3 attacking system that will see battle-hardened forward Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda teaming up with Chiukepo ‘Yakubu’ Msowoya and either Robin Ngalande or Gabadinho Mhango upfront while Kamwendo, John ‘CJ’ Banda and Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi are tipped to start in midfield.

With their pride battered after being held to a barren draw by Namibia, the Flames’ character to immediately bounce back comes under the microscope this afternoon.

This is it—All our dreams, hopes and fears of the ambitious global showcase campaign could be defined this afternoon in an epic contest that is expected to be so fiery and passionate, a contest that will shred the nerves of thousands of fans.

All the contrasting emotions and all the devotion to the Flames will be defined this afternoon.

All the waiting is about to come to an end. The match kicks off at 2.30pm, so by 5pm, we will know the Flames fate — whether they would have lived to fight another day or come to the end of their dream.

Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche told one of Kenya’s leading daily—The Standard— that Malawi should be ‘ready for a big fight’.

A loss or draw for the Flames, who so far have six points from four games, will open up the chance for table leaders Nigeria, on eight points, to seal qualification to the final phase, but the Super Eagles must first beat Namibia in Windhoek.

“Malawians are thinking about the World Cup, but they must fight hard for it. We are also rebuilding. We want to make our fans happy after the disappointment last week,” Amrouche said.

“We want to win because this team has worked very hard in the past three weeks and that is the least these players deserve,” the Belgian added.

Newly-installed captain Victor Wanyama, Dennis Oliech, Kepha Aswani, Johanna Omollo and Steven Waruru are absent for various reasons.

Indications are that custodian Duncan Ochieng’ will be the stand-in captain for this game.