MALAWI TO CAMP IN DENMARK

It seems the Flames are keeping their heads up. They have regrouped for a two-week camp in Denmark in preparation for the crucial game against Guinea on September 5, 2009. The Flames are expected to play a number of friendlies against Denmark based clubs. By the way, a Flames defender is based in Denmark and plays for Lolland-Falster Alliancen FC. IMHO, I don’t think the trip’s well timed. But hey, beggars can’t be choosers.

Malawi’s first XI against Guinea (Guinea 2 MALAWI 1, June 21, 2009) was almost full of foreign based players:

1. Swadick SANUDI 1 (South Africa) Goal Keeper
2. Fischer KONDOWE 2 (South Africa) Midfielder
3. Moses CHAVULA 3 (South Africa) Defender
4. James SANGALA 5 (Angola) Defender
5. Allan KAMANGA 6 (South Africa) Defender
6. Peter MPONDA 7 (South Africa) Defender
7. Joseph KAMWENDO 10 (South Africa) Midfielder
8. Essau KANYENDA 11 (Russia), quit Striker
9. Elvis KAFOTEKA 12 (Malawi) Defender
10. Hellings MWAKASUNGULA 13 (Unattached) Midfielder
11. Robert NG’AMBI 15 (South Africa) Midfielder

SUBSTITUTES:
Chiukepo MSOWOYA 4 (Mozambique) + 46 in for Robert Ng’ambi
Atusaye NYONDO 8 (Malawi)
Davie BANDA 9 (Malawi) + 40 in for Fischer Kondowe
Wisdom NDHLOVU 14 (Tanzania) + 87 in for James Sangala
Jimmy ZAKAZAKA 17 (South Africa)
Tawonga CHIMODZI 18 (South Africa)
Simplex NTHARA 16 (Malawi)

Since the trip doesn’t fall within the FIFA mandated timeframe for clubs to release foreign players, foreign based players will not go along. Here are the 20 local players that will will leave for Denmark this Sunday and return on August 31:

Goalkeepers
Simplex Nthala (MTL Wanderers)
Charles Swine (ESCOM United)

Defenders
Chikumbutso Kanyenda (Bullets)
Limbikani Mzava (ESCOM United)
Elvis Kafoteka (ESCOM United)
Chipiliro Jose (ESCOM United)
Harry Nyirenda (MTL Wanderers)
Richard Chande (Silver Strikers)
Itaye Nundwe (Silver Strikers)

Midfielders
Panganeni Ndovi (Bullets)
Peter Pindani (Bullets)
Lawrence Mwehiwa (CIVO)
Peter Mgangira (CIVO)
Davie Banda (Red Lions)
Peter Mwenda (Silver Strikers)
Hellings Mwakasungula (Unattached)

Strikers
Luka Milanzi (ESCOM United)
Andy Simkonda (Moyale)
Victor Nyirenda (MTL Wanderers)
Chikaiko Bridge (Tigers)

Come September 5th (Malawi vs. Guinea), only 1 or 2 local players will be included in the first eleven. So, will camping in Denmark help the Flames fine-tune ahead of the game against Guinea on September 5, 2009?

I will keep on repeating myself about team cohesion. If you want to build a team of excellence, you find your best eleven, stick with them for a sustained period until each player knows exactly where each other player will be on the pitch at any given moment. That’s how great partnerships and great sides are forged. The more cohesive a team is, the more it encourages peak performance in its members. If cohesion is lacking, it can often prevent the team from reaching its potential. Among other factors, Team Cohesion can be achieved by avoiding excessive team substitution.

On September 5, 2009 if Malawi’s first X1 will be made up of mostly players who will camp in Denmark then the trip will be very beneficial. Building a future team? Let’s wait and see if at least 50% of the players who will camp in Denmark will still be Flames players in 2012 (Africa Cup of Nations). Also, most of these local players will find greener pastures in South Africa and then we’ll be back to square one. It’s hard to achieve team cohesion when the national team is full of foreign based players because they don’t have enough time to play together. They need to play together for a prolonged time so they can “gel” or “bond” or “have good chemistry”.