Tom chalks first win, Flames beat Rwanda 1-0
Relief should have been the prevalent emotion for Flames caretaker coach Tom Saintfiet after registering his first victory against Rwanda’s Amabvubi today.
The 1-0 win at Kigali Stadium in the Rwandan capital also came as a timely boost for the Flames in the countdown to the September 7 make-or-break 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
According to reports from Kigali, discarded forward Atusaye ’Atute’ Nyondo scored the lone goal from a penalty on half hour after a Rwanda defender handled Peter Wadabwa’s well-curled cross.
Just as it is written in Acts Chapter 4 verse 11 of the Holy Bible, the stone that the builder rejected became the cornerstone as Nyondo—who was not in the initial squad for this tie-stepped up to cooly convert the penalty, no panic, job done.
Leader of delegation and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) second vice-president Pikawo Ngalamila said the Flames dominated the better part of the match and forced the hosts into rearguard action.
Saintfiet used an attacking 4-4-2 formation while being cautious at the back. Former Flames captain Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda said the result will lift the players spirits ahead of the Nigeria game.
“Of course it will be a different game with a different atmosphere, but it gives us hope that the guys were able to register a win away.
It should have also given the coach an opportunity to assess other players and try different combinations,” Mponda told Nation Online in an interview..
The ex-Flames captain also said what should be borne in mind is that the Flames were without six key players namely captain Joseph Kamwendo, Robert Ng’ambi, Chiukepo Msowoya, Esau Kanyenda and Zicco Mkanda for different reasons.
Riddled by scandalous stories surrounding their trip to Zambia where some players are reported to have smuggled women into their hotel rooms during the Cosafa Cup, the Flames got their heads above water and hauled themselves out of the mire.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, himself a former Flames sweeper told Nation Online: “It is a very positive result. This gives the boys a lot of confidence ahead of the Nigeria clash.”
This was Saintfiet’s first win after going down to Zimbabwe (3-1 on penalties) and Angola (3-2) during the Cosafa Cup, but he recently claimed that he did not select the squad as he had only been in charge for two days.
Rwanda are ranked 131 on Fifa Coca-Cola rankings while the Flames are 118.
Flames line up: Charles Swini, Limbikani Mzava, Moses Chavula, Harry Nyirenda (George Nyirenda), James Sangala, Phillip Masiye, Chimango Kayira, Peter Wadabwa, John Banda, Atusaye, Robin Ngalande.
