Some football analysts have questioned the rationale behind Malawi National Football Team’s two-week full-time residential camping in preparations for a dead-rubber Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Guinea on September 9 at Bingu National Stadium.
This comes after Football Association of Malawi (Fam) executive committee meeting in Mangochi on Saturday agreed to shift the semi-finals of the 2023 FDH Bank Cup from September 2 and 3 to September 16 and 17 to pave the way for the Flames’ residential camping.
The association said, during the two-week period, national team players will not be released for local competitions, which means TNM Super League fixtures will be affected.
However, some analysts are of the view that two-week camping is not necessary and will have a negative impact on teams.
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“The Executive Committee approved Malawi National Football Team caretaker coach Patrick Mabedi’s programme for the Flames preparations. In order to give the team ample time for the preparations, the Executive Committee decided to shift the semi-finals as players will not be released for local competitions fixtures during the two-week period,’’ the statement from Fam reads.
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However, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) General Secretary Williams Banda said, although they are waiting for official communication, the decision will affect clubs.
“The camp is very long. We will wait for formal communication on the decisions and list of players. All in all, this will affect a lot of clubs, technically and financially,” Banda said.
Sports analyst George Kaudza Masina said this is a recipe for disaster.
“Any break of the league and extension of the football calendar will always have a negative impact on the teams financially but also affect rhythm in the teams.
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“Much as Fam is the authority of football in Malawi, such absolute resolutions have to be avoided,” he said.
During the meeting, Fam also resolved that the Flames will not play an international friendly due to lack of funds and tight local football calendar.
Another sports analyst Parry Chinyama questioned Fam’s decision to shift the matches.
“Suspending matches to accommodate Flames camp is unnecessary. This makes teams pay unwarranted allowances to players for training and transport to avoid losing fitness,” he said.
The Flames are already out of the Afcon qualifiers as Egypt and Guinea qualified for next year’s finals as group leaders and runners-up, respectively.
Meanwhile, Fam has also announced that the football season will be extended by a week.
The football season will end on December 31 instead of December 23.
