Under-20 intensifies preps for DR Congo
The Malawi Under-20 national soccer team has intensified preparations for Saturday’s CAF Youth Championship second round, first leg qualifier against the DR Congo at Kamuzu Stadium.
Team coach Ernest Mtawali said: “Preparations have gone on well, we still have some areas to polish up as noted in the training game we had against Surestream Academy, but we still have four days and hopefully, we can cover everything during this period.”
The Junior Flames were held to a goalless draw by Southern Region Football League (SRFL) Division One champions Surestream at the weekend.
Former Flames captain Peter Mponda, who is in charge of Surestream, hailed the Junior Flames, saying they have the absolute essentials to qualify for the continental youth showpiece.
“They are a good side, tactically they are brilliant and very confident on the ball and their movement is eye-catching. The fact that we held them does not mean they are losing the plot, they just have to polish up in attack.
“I also like their team spirit, it shows they are being drilled by coaches [Mtawali and Gerald Phiri] who know what they are doing, that is the difference,” said Mponda, who was a key member of the only Under-20 team to have qualified for the continental youth showpiece in 1999.
