AFCON 2013: South Africa vs Malawi (Friendly)

Abubakari Zambia lost some friendlies before winning the whole thing. They actually use friendlies to try out new formations and systems. Not just players.

You have to give Tanzania some credit too.

Sscouser are you suggesting that the S. Africans got soft penalties? I didn’t see the game but I know that if the Bafana Bafana were dominating play especially in Malawi’s box, there was a good chance of them getting penalties. Is that what happened?

Either way, the Flames have to get back to winning ways. Losing that many games is not good for the player’s and Malawian’s psyche.

The Ugandan…, here is what Zambia Coach Renard said after Tanzania beat Zambia 1:0

“The most important thing was to see how the young players will perform for the last time. Yesterday 12 players were missing that means yesterdays game was not significant.

“I accepted this game because sometimes you can’t refuse a nice invitation,” he said.

“But of course when you play a game like this with the young players you need fighting spirit and to be a competitor that means the result is not important but the result is to improve all the time one must be hungry all the time even if it is Tanzania.”

Did he say anything about trying out new formations?

“Sscouser are you suggesting that the S. Africans got soft penalties?”

South Africa and Malawi got a penalty each.

06′ Goal!!!!! South Africa 1:0 Malawi (Majoro) – After a Nthala spill
10′ Goal!!!!! South Africa 2:0 Malawi (Tshabalala) – From close range
48′ Goal!!!!! South Africa 2:1 Malawi (Kamwendo) – Penalty
75′ Goal!!!!! South Africa 3:1 Malawi (Maglangu) – Penalty

“I didn’t see the game but I know that if the Bafana Bafana were dominating play especially in Malawi’s box, there was a good chance of them getting penalties.”

South Africa had to win the game by any means necessary?

“Is that what happened?”

I don’t think so but I came across some interesting comments:

- “Result is of course pending investigation from FIFA for match-fixing”

- “Hope it’s not fixed as usual”

“The Flames have to get back to winning ways. Losing that many games is not good for the player’s and Malawian’s psyche.” – The Ugandan…

I hate to agree with you. For once I agree with you. Also, they will need to avoid conceding early goals.

Folks, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!! Wait a minute, I understand there is this thing called Political Correctness. Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

malawi weak, u guys should hang ur boots.

The Zambia coach should give credit where credit is due. @ Ugandan we were also trying out new formations.

Sscouser the article you cited has the following sentence:

Malawi struggled to test the Bafana defence, with their first shot coming six minutes from the break, but David Banda failed to trouble Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune

BTW, where was the ref from?

Abubakari Do the Taifa Stars know that they played Zambian kids?

Pitse, have you replaced Tshosane with a foreign coach yet? Can you afford a foreign coach? “I had submitted a plan to the BFA which was never followed – supposedly because there was no money.” – Botswana Coach Stanley Tshosane

Abubakari, losers rarely give credit where it is due. However I didn’t expect Renard to say “…must be hungry all the time even if it is (against) Tanzania.” Isn’t he dissing Tanzania?

The Ugandan…, the Flames didn’t create any scoring chances in the first half because they defended too deep. Since they already lost the match in the first half, in the second half they played an attacking game. Malawi struggled to test the Bafana defence? What did you expect? The article heading reads “Bafana beat Minnows Malawi.” When did Malawi become Minnows?

The ref was from Mozambique. Neutral?

“Do the Taifa Stars know that they played Zambian kids?” All they know is that they played against Zambia and it was an International “A” Match. The score board read: Tanzania 1:0 Zambia.

Malawi struggled to test the Bafana defence? What did you expect? The article heading reads “Bafana beat Minnows Malawi.” When did Malawi become Minnows? …Sscouser

What are you implying here? Not too long ago you wrote that I was jealous that of Malawi playing the SA friendly instead of Uganda. But both S. Africa and Malawi are minnows to Uganda. FIFA has just confirmed it.

Now whether Malawi are minnows to Malawi, is between the 2 of you but going by recent results, S.A seems to have a strong case.

Malawians had better grab Ashford Mamelodi’s advice by the horns and run with it.

The Ugandan…, have you ever beaten South Africa?

“….But both S. Africa and Malawi are minnows to Uganda. FIFA has just confirmed it.”

Since their introduction in 1992, the FIFA World Rankings have been the matter of much debate, particularly regarding the calculation procedure and the resulting disparity between generally perceived quality and world ranking of some teams.

Perennial under-achievers Uganda 84? Mighty Malawi 111? Incredible!

Football has thrilled, enthralled and stirred the emotions over the course of 2012. Here, FIFA.com singles out 12 moments that have made it a year to remember in the beautiful game.

Zambia’s poignant prize
12 February
Zambia winning their first-ever CAF Africa Cup of Nations title in February would have been remarkable enough. That they beat heavy favourites Cote d’Ivoire to claim the trophy added shock value. But it was the fact that the game was their first in Libreville since the 1993 plane crash that killed all but one of their national team following a refuelling stop in the Gabonese capital that made this the most emotion-laden victory of the year.

Muamba’s miracle
17 March
Tears were shed for a very different reason later that month when a sell-out crowd and worldwide TV audience watched aghast as Fabrice Muamba fought for his life on the White Hart Lane turf. It quickly became clear that Bolton Wanderers’ Congolese-born midfielder had suffered a cardiac arrest and yet, despite the fact his heart stopped for an incredible 78 minutes, he lived to tell the tale and has since written a book about his brush with death.

Stoppage-time Sergio
13 May
The battle for the English Premier League title went down to the final minute of the final game of the season… and beyond. It was, after all, five minutes into stoppage time against Queens Park Rangers, with Manchester United’s match at Sunderland already over, that Sergio Aguero struck the shot that clinched Manchester City’s first championship in 44 years.

Drogba’s final fling
19 May
Didier Drogba’s place among Chelsea’s all-time greats was already assured by the time he headed them level in a UEFA Champions League final in which they had been second-best throughout. Yet that equaliser merely set the stage for the Ivorian’s crowning moment, a coolly dispatched penalty with his final kick for the Blues that secured the club’s first-ever European crown.

Tahiti conquer continent
10 June
Before this year, the OFC Nations Cup had never left the Antipodes. It was, therefore, a major shock when New Zealand, fresh from their FIFA World Cup heroics, failed to even reach the final in the Solomon Islands. Instead, the continental title was fought over by Tahiti and New Caledonia, and it was a solitary goal from Steevy Chong Hue that secured the title, and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup, for the French Polynesians.

Rangers go under
14 June
Rangers’ perilous financial position had been an open secret but there was still shock when, after 140 years of history and a world record 54 league titles, the club was consigned to liquidation in mid-June. The Glasgow giants were subsequently reformed as a new company and granted entry to the Third Division, Scotland’s fourth tier, which they currently lead by nine points with a game in hand.

Pirlo’s Panenka
24 June
Italy were 2-1 down in their penalty shootout against England in the UEFA EURO 2012 quarter-final, and Riccardo Montolivo had missed their previous kick, when Andrea Pirlo stepped up. It was against this tense backdrop that the midfielder scored the cheekiest of chips, knocking the Three Lions off their stride and providing a memorable turning point en route to a 4-2 shootout win.

Spain’s final flourish
1 July
Having listened to sniping criticism throughout their run to the final, Spain provided their detractors with a stunning reminder of why this era belongs to them. Vicente Del Bosque’s side beat Italy by a record-high four-goal margin to retain their European crown and, in doing so, became the first team from the Old Continent to win three major tournaments in succession.

Morgan settles thriller
6 August
Old Trafford has staged plenty of memorable matches, but few have been as thrilling as the magnificent spectacle served up by USA and Canada in the semi-final of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. It had a fittingly dramatic climax too, with Alex Morgan sealing a 4-3 victory for the Americans in the very last minute of extra time.

Ibra to the four
14 November
This was the first-ever match at the Friends Arena, but it is unlikely that the sparkling new Stockholm stadium will ever witness a more devastating individual display. Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the first player in 915 matches to score four times against England, but it was the nature of his final goal – an amazing 30-yard overhead kick – that had the striker’s name on everyone’s lips the following day.

Messi passes Muller
9 December
‘My record stood for 40 years. Now the best player in the world has broken it, and I’m delighted for him.” These were the gracious words of Gerd Muller after Lionel Messi scored his 85th and 86th goals of 2012, surpassing Der Bomber’s 1972 benchmark for goals in a single calendar year. The Argentinian finished the year on 91 goals in all competitions.

Corinthians’ Japanese joy
16 December
Paulista giants Corinthians had won the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup back in 2000, but the tournament’s recent history had been a tale of European dominance. That made it all the sweeter for the Brazilians when, backed by a 20,000-plus band of travelling supporters in Yokohama, they deservedly saw off Chelsea thanks to Paolo Guerrero’s decisive second-half header.

# 13
For the umpteenth time, Uganda Cranes missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations by the most miniscule of margins. The Cranes then had something to cause a mini celebration in the year, winning the less inspiring CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup for yet another unprecedented time – a record 13th.

In 2012 Malawi played 15 matches. Won 4, drew 4, lost 7.

29 Feb 2012: Chad 3:2 Malawi (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers)
26 May 2012: Tanzania 0:0 Malawi (Friendly)
28 May 2012: Zanzibar 1:1 Malawi (Friendly)
02 June 2012: Kenya 0:0 Malawi (World Cup Qualifiers)
09 June 2012: Malawi 1:1 Nigeria (World Cup Qualifiers)
16 June 2012: Malawi 2:0 Chad (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers)
06 July 2012: Malawi 1:0 Zambia (Friendly)
04 Sept 2012: Liberia 1:0 Malawi (Friendly)
08 Sept 2012: Ghana 2:0 Malawi (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers)
13 Oct 2012: Malawi 0:1 Ghana (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers)
26 Nov 2012: Rwanda 2:0 Malawi (CECAFA 2012)
29 Nov 2012: Malawi 3:2 Eritrea (CECAFA 2012)
01 Dec 2012: Malawi 2:0 Zanzibar (CECAFA 2012)
04 Dec 2012: Kenya 1:0 Malawi (CECAFA 2012)
22 Dec 2012: South Africa 3:1 Malawi (Friendly)

FIFA Ranking:

Jan 2012 = 99
Feb 2012 = 98
Mar 2012 = 96
April 2012 = 102
May 2012 = 102
June 2012 = 107
July 2012 = 93
Aug 2012 = 90
Sept 2012 = 90
Oct 2012 = 96
Nov 2012 = 101
Dec 2012 = 111

2010 Average = 86
2011 Average = 94
2012 Average = 99

Do you see the trend? There is light at the end of the tunnel?

Going by the average it is very evident that we are getting worse. I don’t think it will get wworser than this

Nathan, it depends on how you look at it.

94 (2011 Average) – 86 (2010 Average) = 8
99 (2012 Average) – 94 (2010 Average) = 5

Getting better or worse?

Anyway, Malawi National Team coach Kinnah Phiri told Nation Sports that the Flames’ poor showing is due to poor preparation and lack of training games.

“But on top of that we should be mindful that we are building a new team with a number of new faces having changed our tactical approach of using more local players.

“Look at Egypt, they were three time back-to-back AFCON Champions, but when the old players retired, they have failed to qualify for AFCON twice as the young players are still learning. But they will be strong soon and we are also moving in the same direction,” said Kinnah

Jack Chamangwana (FAM Technical Director and adviser to Flames Technical Panel) as quoted by Daily Times: “We need new players and a new team. We have to assess the players and decide who should stay or go. Most of the current players show no commitment to national team duties. They are letting the coaches down. For instance, in the match against Bafana Bafana, some players showed no interest on the pitch. That is why we did not do well.”

On his part, Flames captain and key player Moses Chavula said the players are committed, but their moods may be misinterpreted.

“People may hold different opinions on the players’ commitment. However, sometimes we play games in different moods. When one is in a bad mood, he may appear as if he is not committed,” Chavula said.

Chavula then said Flames’ poor performance can be attributed to conceding early goals which demoralise the players.

“We have been making defensive blunders in the early stages of matches. This puts us under pressure. Apart from that, the coming in of new players has affected the coordination in the team. We need to work hard and play together for a long time. If we get a couple of wins, we will regain our confidence,” he explained.

Flames rebuilding botched up
Daily Times (25 December 2012)

The much talked about Flames rebuilding exercise should have started way back in 2010 and not now when majority of the national team players are past their prime and yet there are no suitable replacements available.

As a result, the national team is paying the price for sticking to old guards that have since burned out.

The class of 2010 Angola Africa cup of Nations had players like Joseph Kamwendo, Dave Banda, Chiukepo Msowoya, Swadick Sanudi, Moses Chavula, Esau Kanyenda, Peter Mponda, Bernard Harawa, Russell Mwafulirwa, James Sangala, Hellings Mwakasungula and Jacob Ngwira.

Though majority of the players are still with the national team, none of the above players are playing professional football after they were all let go by their respective clubs due to reasons bordering on performance.

Some of the players have since returned home to re-launch their careers with TNM Super League clubs.

Fam general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, when analysing Flames’ performance in the yet to end year 2012, blamed the poor showing to lack of proper transition in the Flames.

“The Flames rebuilding exercise should have started way back in 2010 soon after the Angola Africa Cup of Nations finals. The exercise should have been gradual and systematic so that young up and coming players are given chance to take over from the experienced players,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we delayed this process. We stuck to old guards who should have been replaced by now. It’s only towards the end of last year and that we started taking the issue of succession seriously.”

Nyirenda said by the time the national team realized that it had to find replacements for the experienced players, it was too late.

“You can see that we started using up and coming players in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers. But these players were not ready to play at such high level because they had not gone through the necessary stages in their careers,” he said.

“If you look at the team that went to Angola Africa Cup of Nations you can see that most of the players like Peter Mponda, Robert Ng’ambi and James Sangala went through the junior national teams before they later joined the national team.

“We were expecting that our national team that went to the World Cup in Algeria would be the future of the Flames but where are they? Only one of them Limbikani Mzava, is outstanding as we talk now.”

…

@Sscouser, please stop playing around with numbers.
We all know Malawi is regressing, if you don’t simply Google “Ashford Mamelodi & Malawi”.

See how Ghana phased out the midfield quartet of Essien, Muntari, Laryea Kingston and Appiah. The replacements are not as good but that’s another story. Also playing friendlies with stronger teams while rebuilding does not help the cause.

I hope the 2013 brings better results but I see only anguish for Malawian footie fans.

Posted from  United States

If Malawi will be around the same ranking this time next year then it will be time for Mr. Phiri to go.

@ Nathan Tembo Phiri is not the problem. How many friendlies does he get with all the 1st team players? How often does he even get to work with them?

FAM (like FUFA) is broke and a quite unresourceful.

Phiri can only do so much with what he has.

No eggs – no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. — Jose Mourinho

Ugandan you don’t know what you are talking about. Kinnah will not be the first coach to be fired. Malawi coaches before him were fired even though the team didn’t play enough friendlies. When he applied for the job he knew what he was getting into.

It’s news to me that Algeria hosted World Cup and Malawi qualified

Mathieu Longwe please brush up on your comprehension skills. No where did I mention that he will not be fired.

All I wrote was that Phiri is not the problem. Whether he is fired or not is not the issue.

The Ugandan…, statisticians say that numbers don’t lie.

“We all know Malawi is regressing”

Uganda progressing?

“simply Google ‘Ashford Mamelodi & Malawi’ ”

I did and this is what came up: MALAWI ROBBED IN BROAD-DAY LIGHT

Anyway, while in Malawi Mamelodi was quoted by Daily Times as saying “Maximum period for building a team is 10 years. I always give an example of France. When they won the World Cup in 1998, people were congratulating the coach Aimé Jacquet, but he said, don’t thank me, thank the coach who was here 10 years ago, he is the one that built this team.”

What’s the minimum period for building a team?

Nathan, Malawi will be around 115 next month and may keep on dropping. Here are the fixtures for 2013:

World Cup Qualifiers – CAF GROUP F
22-26 March 2013: Namibia vs Malawi
07-11 June 2013: Malawi vs Namibia
14-18 June 2013: Malawi vs Kenya
06-10 Sept 2013: Nigeria vs Malawi

Do you think they will win at least two? A win over Nigeria will take them back to top 90. Can Malawi win in Nigeria? Impossible is nothing?

Zambia is scheduled to host COSAFA Senior Challenge in June/July 2013. A win over Zambia will take Malawi back to top 90. Seems we are putting the horse before the cart here. Who are the sponsors of COSAFA Senior Challenge?

The Ugandan…, Malawi played 3 friendly matches before playing against Kenya (World Cup Qualifiers). 3 friendly matches not enough? It’s not the number of friendlies that matters. It’s what you do with those friendlies that matters.

“How often does he even get to work with them?”

Now most of the players are local players. They are in camp for at least 2 weeks. 2 weeks not enough?

“FAM (like FUFA) is broke and a quite unresourceful.”

When was the last time they withdrew from World Cup/AFCON qualifiers due to lack of funds?

“Phiri can only do so much with what he has”

How come Sunderland beat Man City?

“It’s all about omelettes and eggs. No eggs, no omelette. And it depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket, you have eggs class one, class two, class three. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.” – Jose Mourinho

This is in stark contrast to Luis Felipe Scolari when faced with a similar “injury crisis” at Chelsea. A minimum of seven first-choice first team players were out injured, leaving Luis Felipe Scolari without much choice in his team sheet, or so you would think. He was quick to point out however, that he had 24 talented players to choose from—so any problem was imagined.

Mathieu, most of them were caretakers.

Steve, the 2009 African Under-17 Championship was held in Algeria and the four semi-finalists (Algeria, Malawi, Gambia and Burkina Faso) qualified for the Under-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009. By the way, where are the Malawian players? No continuity?

“Mathieu Longwe please brush up on your comprehension skills. No where did I mention that he will not be fired.”

Pot, kettle, black.

What’s the latest on Sunzu?

Reading sign Sporting Lisbon captain Daniel Carrico
BBC Sport (31 December 2012)

Reading have signed Sporting Lisbon captain Daniel Carrico.

The 24-year-old former Portugal Under-21 defender has signed an initial two-and-a-half year contract, with the option of a further year after that.

Carrico was out of contract in June, with Reading paying £609,000 for him, according to the Portuguese side.

A Reading statement read: “Carrico is a versatile player who can play in the centre of defence as well as in midfield.”

Carrico, who had made only two appearances for Sporting this season because of his contractual situation, will join the Royals later this week.

…

Liberia sack coach Kaetu Smith after just seven months
BBC Sport (29 December 2012)

The Liberia Football Association has dismissed coach Kaetu Smith and his assistants after poor results during their seven months in the job.

Smith and his team were appointed in May but failed to win any of his five competitive matches in charge.

The LFA president Musa Bility added Liberia legend George Weah would head the committee to find a replacement.

“Someone has to take responsibility for the team’s dismal showing and in this case, it is the coach,” Bility said

“We also understand that the players lack commitment, patriotism and emotion for their country“.

Bility said the new Lone Star team will include players who demonstrate commitment to play for Liberia.

Weah, who was critical of the appointment of Smith, and his committee want to have a new coach in place for the next round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers in March.

Liberia are currently bottom of their World Cup qualifying group following a 3-1 loss in Senegal and a goalless draw at home to Namibia.

Their next qualifier is at home to the other team in the group Uganda.

While in charge Smith did manage two wins in friendly matches featuring under-strength sides as the Lone Star beat visiting Malawi and Ghana in September.

Kinnah differs with Jack on rebuilding strategy
Nation Sports (31 December 2012)

Flames coach Kinnah Phiri has trashed the suggestion by his technical adviser Jack Chamangwana that there is need to replace players who are lacking commitment with new blood.

Chamangwana on Friday questioned some players’ commitment and accused them of contributing to the problem of the team’s recent poor showing.

“We need new players and a new team. We have to assess the players and decide who should stay or go. Most of the players show no commitment to national duties, they are letting the coaches down,” said Chamangwana.

But Kinnah was not amused by Chamangwana’s comments and has described them as unfortunate.

“The solution is not to get rid of the players. If we remove the players, where are we going to get the replacements?

“In fact, if that is what he [Jack] is saying, then it means he is also failing in his duties because he is supposed to groom talent for the senior national team.

“If his suggestion is that the team should be dissolved, then let him give us the players,” said Kinnah.

However, Chamangwana said the statement was based on his opinion as a tactician.

Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana last week said the future of the Flames coaching panel, after the poor showing at the recent Cecafa tournament in Kampala, Uganda, would be determined by a meeting between FAM and Sports Council.

While confirming Chihana’s stand on the matter, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said they are planning to meet Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to jointly review the Flames set-up

“It will have to be a joint decision because Malawi Government is a key partner, being the sponsor in the employment of the senior technical officials of the national team.

“That is why it is important for us not to make a decision in isolation,” said Nyamilandu.

Nyamilandu also said while they are addressing the technical panel, the issue of preparations and players’ welfare will also be looked into.

“So, round-table discussions will be crucial in mapping the way forward,” he said.

Apart from Kinnah and Chamangwana, the other senior Flames technical panel member is assistant coach Young Chimodzi. Recently, FAM also had to deal with a working relationship problem between Kinnah and Chimodzi whereby Kinnah was alleged to have complained that Chimodzi was sabotaging his employment.

It will really take ages for teams like Taifa stars to feature in Afcon because by beating Zambia in a friendly they think the have climbed the highest ladder in African soccer.Just watch Zambia in its opening Match then you can Judge.

caeser, your first match will be against Ethiopia. I, for one, will judge after your matches against Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Good luck.