All eyes will be on the Malawi Women’s National Football Team as they begin the Cosafa Women’s Championship title defence campaign when facing Botswana in a Group B match at Gelvandale Stadium in South Africa this afternoon.
The Scorchers suffered a blow following the absence of seven key players including the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, France-based attacker Rose Kabzere, United States-based striker Chioma Okafor, Chimwemwe Madise, who plays in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Zambia-based duo of Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Irene Khumalo.
However, Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili is optimistic of doing well, having devised an alternative plan.
“We have plan B, which we fixed. We have good players to execute our plan. We are not very much worried [about the absence of the seven players]. There is nothing we can say about the professionals. The team is intact. We have a winning formula,” he said.
- Advertisement -
Botswana are the Scorchers’ toughest opponents from the group, having reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Morocco.
- Advertisement -
Coincidentally, Malawi and Botswana were in the same group during the 2022 Cosafa Cup but the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Last year, the Scorchers defeated Madagascar 3-1 in the group stages but it will be the first time for Malawi to meet Mauritius.
Fazili said they had prepared well for any opposition, such that they were taking matches as they came.
“We are prepared. Almost everyone is prepared for the match tomorrow. All departments are okay. Since we are the defending champions, we have to be ready for anything.
- Advertisement -
“We have played with these countries before and, as such, we know how tough they are. Botswana once went to the World Cup; so, they are not an easy team. For Madagascar and Mauritius, they are improving each and every year and, as such, we are not underrating any team,” he said.
Despite the absence of the seven key players, the Scorchers have plenty of quality, with the likes of Letticia Chinyamula, Carolyne Mathyola, Funny Magombo, Asimenye Simwaka, Pilirani Malora, Vannesa Chikupila, Mary Chavinda and Sabina Thom ready to strut their stuff.
The Scorchers won their first Cosafa Women’s Championship after beating Zambia 2-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium last year.
