The Flames of Malawi: Ain’t too proud to beg?

Ain’t too proud to beg,
Please play a friendly against The Flames
Ain’t too proud to beg,
Please play a friendly against The Flames at no cost to The Flames

After being extinguished by Ivory Coast, The Flames’ next competitive match will be against Burkina Faso on June 6, 2009 at the Giant Kamuzu Stadium, where no team in the world can beat The Flames.

A week before The Flames played against Ivory Coast, they played a friendly game against Uganda in Uganda. Uganda took care of all The Flames’ expenses. Did the friendly help?

Friendlies help with team cohesion. You can’t get team cohesion without playing games. It should be noted that team cohesion is best achieved by playing games frequently within a short period of time and fielding the same players in each game. Most Malawi National Team players are based in South Africa. The clubs release the players for competitive matches only. Usually, the clubs release the players 4-5 days before the game. If the players play overseas you may need to factor in jet lag and at least one day of travel. Not getting enough rest is one of the reasons why professional players get injured during National Team training. Have you ever been on a 28 hour flight? Now imagine a 28 flight and then on the pitch within 12 hours? If the game is within two days the “tiredness” carries over to the day of the game.

June 6th seems to be a convenient day for The Flames. Most leagues start the off season mid May so The Flames may be able to train/practice as a unit for at least three weeks before the game against Burkina Faso on June 6th. That’s no big deal. The big deal is lack of funds. The Flames may have enough funds for camping but not for friendlies.

Malawi and Zambia more or less have same kind of playing style. Algeria, if you need to have a feel of Zambian football you need to play a friendly against Malawi. All you need to do is to let The Flames know well in advance that you will take care of the costs. If you don’t want what happened to Egypt happen to you then pick up the phone right now and let The Flames know well in advance that you will play a friendly against them and at no cost to The Flames.