Under-20 beat Flames in training game

The Under-20 national soccer team got the sort of morale boost ahead of tomorrow’s CAF Africa Youth Championship second-round first leg qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) when they beat the Flames 1-0 in a training game on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium.

However, the Junior Flames coach Ernest Mtawali played down the result, saying: “It was a mere training game and people should not read much into the outcome because Saturday’s game will be different and competitive.”

Khumbo Ng’ambi scored the lone goal in what was the last preparatory game for the Junior Flames before they line up against the Young Leopards.

Speaking during a press briefing he jointly addressed with his deputy, Gerald Phiri senior at FAM’s Chiwembe Technical Centre yesterday, Mtawali announced that the team’s trump card Chawanangwa Kaonga suffered a knock on Wednesday that kept him out of yesterday’s training session.

“Initially, I thought it was a hamstring, but the team doctor has assured me that it is minor and he should be fit for the game. We expect him to train with us on Friday,” he said.

Mtawali sent the media into stitches when he mocked English Premiership side Liverpool as he answered a question on his game plan.

“We are playing at home, so the emphasis will be to attack and get two or three goals, but at the same time we will have to be cautious and make sure that we do not concede two or three goals like Liverpool,” he said in reference to Liverpool who allowed Crystal Palace to come from three goals down and pull level in the last 11 minutes.

Interestingly, Mtawali is a fan of Liverpool.

Meanwhile, FAM has announced gate charges for the match. Open Stands are pegged at K500, MBC Stand K1 000, Covered Stands K1 500 while a seat in the comfort of the VIP enclosure will cost K3 000.

A 35-member DRC team arrived in the country yesterday afternoon and is camping at Hotel Victoria.