Gerald Phiri speaks out
Malawi’s Flames roaming midfielder Gerald Phiri Junior has downplayed his free-kick exploits, saying he is breaking no sweat to prove wrong detractors who felt he was not a national team material.
Phiri, who has scored four consecutive free-kick goals for club [Platinum Stars] and country, made the difference with his set-piece delivery that earned the Flames a 1-0 win over Comoros at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday.
The son to the Flames’ assistant coach granted Malawi News an interview during the week when asked to recollect that feelgood 32nd minute moment that swept the home crowd.
“Obviously, when people doubt you, the more you want to prove them wrong. When things go your way, you want to prove wrong people who felt you should not have been part of the national team,” said the 24-year-old who some felt lacked the endurance and physique required for the rigours of international football.
“I was never distracted by what people said about me. I just concentrated on myself and my game. I am trying to improve in several areas. You always have to. The dream for Europe football is still there. It is just about working hard and waiting for that call.”
The former Brave Warriors winger finished the season in South Africa with two freekick goals having earlier also scored in Malawi’s 1-0 home win over Swaziland during a dead-rubber qualifier for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) last year.
In the build up the 2019 Afcon qualifier against Comoros, Phiri Junior, who once attended trials in Poland for three months while at Caps United in Zimbabwe, said the Flames had practised free kicks.
“Individually, I train for 30 minutes just taking free-kicks. Before the game, we did not train much on free-kicks. I must have taken just five against Owen Chaima [goalkeeper]. Obviously, the coach [Ronny van Geneugden] told me that if I get a free-kick on the right, then I can take it directly but when it’s on the left, I should float it into the area,” he recalled.
The lanky midfielder is set to revert to parent club BidVest Wits in South Africa following the expiry of his loan spell at Stars. He hinted that Stars might sign him on a long-term deal.
Phiri Senior was yesterday reluctant to comment on his son, saying “as a family” we are proud of him.
Van Geneugden should be banking on players such as Phiri Junior going into the Cosafa Castle Cup scheduled to run from June 25 to July 9 in South Africa where Malawi are in the same preliminary round group with Tanzania, Angola and Mozambique.
FACT FILE
Date of birth: June 8 1993
Playing position: Midfielder
Current team: Stars/Wits
Senior career
2011–13: Wanderers
2013–15: Caps
2015: Wits
National team: 5 goals, 18 caps
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
