Flames out

By Joy Ndovi in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Malawi’s dreams of winning their first ever Cosafa Cup title were shattered Thursday when they lost 1-0 to Namibia in the quarterfinals at Lilian Ngoyi stadium in South Africa.

On paper it was a game that could have been described as the easiest for Malawi, but unfortunately inability to translate good performance into winning goals proved difficult for the Flames.

Malawi have no one to blame but themselves after they messed up the game by starting defending right from the first whistle a strategy that never worked out at all.

Playing with a single striker Victor Nyirenda upfront following Chiukepo Msowoya and Atusaye Nyondo’s illnesses, the system only gave the Flames problems.

The Brave Warriors on the other hand came into the game with one thing in mind, to mess up Malawi’s dreams and at the end of the game they achieved their goal.

Unlike the Flames, the Brave Warriors played an attacking game and they never wasted an opportunity to shoot even outside the danger area.

The first half ended in stalemate but it was Namibia’s ability to shot from far that finally earned them a goal in the second half through Lazarus Kaimbi whose 30 metre drive never gave Sanudi a chance.

A disappointed coach Kinnah Phiri was lost of words although he attributed the poor showing to Malawi’s lack of firepower upfront.

“Its very disappointing that we are out,” Kinnah said after the match. “This was not a game for us to lose.

“The sickness of the five players also affected our performance. Any way we have learned a few things from the tournament.”

Before the game five regulars for the Flames were sick and were declared unfit to play the game; Atusaye Nyondo, Jacob Ngwira, Chiukepo Msowoya, Leslie Tamutamu and Elvis Kafoteka were al down Malaria. It was like a curse had befallen the Flames.

Only Elvis Kafoteka passed a late medical test and played the whole game. Otherwise Kinnah had to do with some inexperinced legs in Chikondi Likwemba, Innnocent Jere and Victor Nyirenda.

In the firts half Malawi played a promissing game although their attack lacked real threat as they missed chance after chance especially through Nyirenda, Jere and Fischer Kondowe. After Namibia scored five minutes into the second half, Malawi panicked such that their attack became disjointed and could not yield results.

Namibia pressed their advantage and frustrated the Flames using any trick known in the book of football; from a lazy dive by their goal keeper to delays in picking dead balls.

Depleted of resources Kinnah had little choices to make from the bench to turn round the fortunes of the Flames. In desperation Kinnah made his last throw of the dice, removing Innocent Jere for Malumbo Mkandawire but to avail. The minutes ticked away and so did the Flames chances of getting a goal.

Even when Kondowe moved upfront, the damage had already been done.

Namibia have now qualified for the quarterfinals and they will play South Africa on Saturday at Witbank.