A year ago, Malawi Women’s National Football Team arrived in the country with pomp and fanfare after the side won the Cosafa Women’s Championship for the first time.
It was the first time that the country celebrated Cosafa glory at senior level in both men’s and women’s football.
However, such is not the case this time as the Scorchers returned with nothing to show having surrendered the cup following a 2-0 defeat to Zambia who will meet South Africa in the final.
It was a sweet revenge for Zambia—a bitter one for Malawi— after they lost 2-1 to the Scorchers in last year’s final.
- Advertisement -
The Scorchers were without France-based attacker Tabitha Chawinga, Rose Kabzere, US-based striker’s Temwa Chawinga Chioma Okafor, Chimwemwe Madise who plays in Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia-based duo Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Irene Khumalo.
- Advertisement -
Nevertheless, the women’s senior side coach Lovemore Fazili selected 23 players with MDF Lioness goalkeeper Yamikani Kawonga, Ascent Soccer’s Maureen Kenneth, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women’s Tendai Sani, Silver Strikers’ Chisomo Banda and MDF Lioness’ Catherine Kachala making it into the squad for the first time while Bullets Women’s Pilirani Malora has returned to the team after missing for over five years.
Signs that things were not okay were visible in the opening game when Botswana held the Scorchers to a 1-1 draw.
The arrival of Democratic Republic of Congo based striker Sabina Thom gave hope to the Scorchers but the team did not come to the party in their next fixture as they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Madagascar.
With doubts haunting Malawians, the Scorchers thrashed Mauritius 9-0 to book their semifinals slot against Group C leaders Zambia.
- Advertisement -
The inevitable happened in the second half of the semifinal as Zambia underlined their class to overcome Malawi who were visibly exhausted.
It is obvious that Scorchers’ big challenge to defend the Cosafa Cup has been preparations.
Being in camp for two weeks or a month is not enough.
Preparations start from scouting of players, which did not happen, as the uncertainty surrounding coach Fazili’s post affected his role.
Recently, Blantyre City Deputy Mayor Isaac ‘Jomo’ Osman, who runs Kukoma Ntopwa, raised questions regarding the status of women’s football.
“Of course women’s football is steadily developing but we need to elevate the standards of regional competitions to match our counterparts in the region. We have games ending in high score margins and then you tend to wonder if there was competition at all,” he said.
Indeed the quality of the league, leaves a lot to be desired of. With the quality of the league, the team needed more time in camp to gel.
Local sports analyst Mwakhele Moi Kaliande also questioned the standard of women’s football in the country and poor preparations.
“Speak of the level of our domestic women’s league competitiveness, structure and preparations were not up to standard. Where our women’s football is, it is really unrealistic to have the team in camp for five to six days and to think that the last time the team played was in October 2023 at Cosafa Women’s where it won and that year it was the very first time we saw an international friendly against Seychelles.
“Football is a process and you cannot keep beating the system hoping to get the results never and if we are not careful as a nation we will be stuck while other nations are making progress,” Kaliande, who is also a Mij sports presenter, said.
Much as the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, are key members of the team, we should not be relying on them too much as they might not be available all the time.
At the level they are, you cannot expect them at tournaments like Cosafa.
It was even strange calling them into camp and it was not a surprise with their absence. The players we had in Port Elizabeth were good enough to shine and defend the cup.
To improve the Scorchers does not require rocket science.
Firstly, hire a full-time coach and his backroom staff and improve the women’s league.
In women’s football, grassroots football is not in their vocabulary and this should be the starting point.
“We are already blessed as a country with a lot of Caf A, B and C coaches who are just idle and can be utilised starting at district, regional and up to national levels.
Let us avoid expecting miracles as football is won based on thorough preparations and luck comes in as a bonus.
