Flames target strong start against Warriors
The last time they were in town in March 2014, the Warriors of Zimbabwe set the Kamuzu Stadium ablaze hammering the Flames 4-1 in an international friendly match.
On that fateful Wednesday, coach Young Chimodzi dreamed of a perfect start to his reign as Flames coach.
But Peter Moyo had other ideas as he put the Warriors in the lead just 13 minutes into the game.
From then on it was Malawi chasing the game and though some hope was restored after Atusaye Nyondo’s equaliser, Chimodzi ended up enduring a painful afternoon that climaxed with supporters chanting songs calling for his immediate removal.
This afternoon, the coach is multi-tasked. Obviously, revenge is on his mind.
But the stakes are so high that concentrating on revenge might derail the ultimate mission of collecting maximum points in Group L battle for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
There can only be one team that will qualify for the final in this group, and that team has to start strongly in the opening fixtures.
Coach Chimodzi downplayed his loss to Zimbabwe and said he was in another mission bigger than the international friendly.
“Since the last time we lost to Zimbabwe, we have never played them again,” he said.
“But that was another game. This is a totally different game.”
Chimodzi, without letting the cat out of the bag, said he has an upper hand in the game.
“The approach will be totally different from the last time we played them,” he said.
“We have a really good team. The preparations were perfect. I have no doubt of overcoming Zimbabwe.”
His captain Joseph Kamwendo, was also optimistic of victory.
“For us this is another opportunity to make history,” he said.
“We are starting at home. We have a very good record at home and our task is to make sure we protect that record and bag maximum points. A draw is not an option for us.”
Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa, who had to wait until late this week to confirm if the Warriors would make the trip, told Zimbabwe media that he was ready for the showdown as well.
Only two out of the 19-men he had called up for the tour of duty to Malawi have failed to turn up.
Sweden-based striker Nyasha Mushekwi has been ruled out because of a calf injury while Kaizer Chiefs forward Mathew Rusike did not turn up for camp.
“I have all the players now except Mathew Rusike. Nyasha is ruled out, he told the manager that he had not recovered from the calf muscle injury he picked while playing for his club,’’ Pasuwa said.
“I am happy with the spirit that these players have shown,” the coach was quoted by The Herald.
The coach even boasted of being capable of bringing results without proper preparations.
“At the present moment we have a tendency of grinding results, without even training,” he said.
Leading the Warriors attack will be Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cuthbert Malajila and Belgian-based Knowledge Musona.
Group L action started yesterday when Guinea hosted Swaziland on neutral soil at the Complexe V Mohammed in Casablanca, Morocco.
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