FLAMES LOSES TO RWANDA 2-0 AT CECAFA

....     But the Malawi coach believes his charges can still overturn the table

flames captured before a game at kamuzu stadium

Malawi national football team, the flames yesterday went down to Rwanda 2-0 during their opening match in the on going cecafa tusker challenge cup in Uganda.

The game which was beamed live on supersport and attracted a handful spectators saw the flames outclassed in the whole first half by Rwandans who came wave after wave  torwards the Malawi territory .

Rwanda could have scored In the 20^th minute after firing a man to man shot past Charles Swini into the net, but thanks to an off side rule against one of them.

Their hungry for goals bore fruits in 38 minute when Mugirazena scored from rebound after the relaxed defense of Malawi failed to clear the ball away in the penalty box.

The only tick for Malawi was a Joseph Kamwendo’s 35 metre drive which went over the bar. Kamwendo was the only outstanding midfielder who was perfoming well.

The flames coach Kinna Phiri who was almost on his feet through out the game made a first substitution by parading in Mecium Mhone for Bernad Harawa at half time. The substitution helped the build up of the midfield where in the 46 minute they could have equalized but the first time connection hit side netting.

Rwanda started to respond to the flames attacks in the second half but thanks to outstanding Swini who made several brilliant saves following the lapse in the Malawi defense.

Green Harawa was much wasteful as he missed several clear scoring chances. Rwanda  could have scored an own gaol after deflecting a well taken free kick from Moses Chavula but their eyeful keeper punched it away for a corner kick.

The last substitution for Malawi was Innocent Bokosi who replaced Green Harawa. Swini continued to save Malawi from dangers as he, at 78 minute, saved another man to man shot. Nevertheless, the Rwandans through Horuna Niyozima scored a second goal from 30 metre distance in the 79 minute.

In an interview with superspot, Kinna Phiri admitted that his charges missed clear chances.

”it was not our day. We missed several scoring chances, but we are not worried because we have two more games which we believe we can overturn the tables and qualify to another round.” said Kinna.

The loss means a lot to the flames which had most national team materials like Moses Chavula, Foster Namwera, Chiukepo Msowoya, Joseph Kamwendo, Steve Chagoma and Charles Swini. No wondor, Chiukepo and Chavula were caught by the cameras weeping on the pitch after the final whistle.

Where did Malawi get wrong? Do you think they can indeed overturn the tables? Comment!

            

DEMOLITION OF KAMUZU STADIUM MOST WELCOME

I heard with  great suprise the news that the formerly Rangeley stadium, now Kamuzu stadium is set to reopen for games despite having dangerous cracks.

Clubs may be saying that playing at Balaka and Kalulu stadium may be as costly as any away game, yes. The fact that they also rely on gate collections, and that they get much at kamuzu than those small capacity grounds, its true. They may even say that at kamuzu they have huge support from thier fans hence probably performing well, its fine. They may cite all valid reasons, but they should understand the fate of losing lives.

Let's remember what happened in Ivory Coast when the Flames were busy losing 5-0 to the host: almost 19 lives were lost, and there are numerous examples to cite on the same.

"take it or leave it, the Kamuzu stadium is too old to even accomodate restricted  spectators. Let me agree with mr Musonye who recommended the demolition. you can not sit at the end of the branch of a tree that you are cutting thinking that you are safe. even if they can demacate the no going areas but the terraces are still connected and the cracks are likely to affect the whole".

secondly it should be appreciated by soccer loving supporters that by holding to use  the old stadium it will not fasten the government to construct a new stadium in Blantyre. if it gets down, surely the government will respond quickly to your cries. interestingly, when shall we finish to renovate the old stadium with flood lights, or terraces after 40 years of service.

"we would not like to have a nation mourning period from kamuzu stadium victims yet we had the time for prevention.   kudumpha dzenje nkulionera patali"

MIGHTY WONDERERS OUT OF CARLSBERG CUP, TROUBLE BREWS

There  was unbelievable moment at Balaka stadium last saturday when Blue eagles from Lilongwe beat Mighty Wonderers at the venue where the Nomads boosted to have never lost a game, to mark thier oust in the ongoing carlsberg malawi cup.

Ten minutes into the game the blue eagles side had already got a goal from Patrick Masanjala's long drive. Since then , Mighty wonderers began to play under pressure to equalise. In the game two pernalties were also awarded to the police side which they all converted to make it three. The Nomads were also given two penalties which Joseph Kamwendo managed to convert.

It was agame of everything because red cards were awarded to each side with Chipuwa for Wonderers while Mecium Mhone for blue eagles. Four penalties were also awarded with numerous yellow cards as well. Final whistle Blue Eagles 3-2 Wonderers.

Following the loss, Nomads symphathisers resolted to violence which saw three of thier supporters  implicated. Meanwhile Fam and Sulom are yet to  make a decision on the fate.

 However, the officials from the Lali Lubani side have blamed the referee for not adding enough added time after the game was stopped for almost 10 minutes during the second half. The loss means that both carlsberg malawi sponsorship beneficiaries are out of thier mother's trophy. Bullets fc was ousted in the first round by Super Eagles of Mzuzu two weeks ago.

In a twist of events, trouble has began to brew at Mighty Wonderers following the call for immediate resignation of thier exucutive commetee by central region supporters. According to the local reports from the media, the supporters are saying that the executive has failled them.

In reaction to the call, the wonderers genaral secretary has since bemoaned the supporters saying they have no supporting evidence for thier allegations. " We have won standard bank trophy, and now we are at postion four in tnm, are these mean achievements? should missing carlsbeg  cup delete all these successes when even our rival bullets are out? If its football politics then we will see"   said the GS on Mij FM.

 YOUR COMMENTS ON THE GAME NEEDED


FULL RESULTS

blue eagles             3  1  wondereres

escom                    2      0 karonga vendors

red lions                2    0 silver strikers

azam                     2     0  moyale

blue eagles youth  3 2  super eagles

civo united            2 3 epac

enverom                1  1 mzuni {5 -4 pen}

kabwafu                1  1 white eagles{5-4 pen}

CARLBERG MALAWI CUP SECOND ROUND

On sunday by 5pm it will be known as to which teams should proceed to another round. Meanwhile, Mighty Wonderers, Azam Tigers, and Moyale fc have been given a tough assignment to do on saturday. The fixture continues on sunday with Epac fc to chat with Civo united when Red Lions takes on Silver Strikers. meanwhile Karonga vendors have sent amessage to escom united not to undermine them. according to the team's coach, escom united should  expect  a tough game come on sunday at mzuzu stadium. on the other side, escom united has said it is planning to avenge the punishment the karonga vendors imposed on blantyre united two weeks ago.

Mighty wonderers is another favourite to watch because their goalkeeper of the moment Richard Chipuwa is in form to shame the unbehaving strikers.However it will just be acracker because in thier last meeting with blue eagles, the nomads lost by 1-0.  officials attributed the loss to fatique of players who played in the national team against Ghana , then against epac on sunday before meeting the police side on monday.  Therefore, will the lali luban boys prove thier fatique attribution, or be detained again come saturday?


      THE FULL FIXTURE

SATURDAY
mighty wonderers             vs        blue eagles at   balaka stadium

white eagles                      vs        kabwafu       at    mzuzu stadium

azam tigers                        vs       moyale          at    kalulu stadium


mzuni fc                           vs         enverom        at   BAT  ground

SUNDAY



Karonga vendors          vs         escom           at    mzuzu stadium

blue eagles youth          vs           super eagles  at   nankhala ground

epac fc                        vs             civo united      at silver stadium

Red lions                     vs             silver strikers    at  zomba  community ground

CARLSBERG MALAWI CUP BRINGS MORE SUPRISE IN THE FIRST ROUND

    Barely few days after the start of Carlsberg Malawi cup national round, the soccer fraternity has been filled with surprise as small teams from lower leagues have claimed glory and proceed to another round after beating big teams from the super league.

 Bullets fc was cursed down 2-1 by a Simama Mzuzu and district football league giant killer super eagles at Mzuzu stadium on Saturday. The people’s team could be said to have gone into the pitch with overconfidence having won their previous Tnm super league game comfortably against Azam tigers 2-0 courtesy of their willy-nilly scorer Gabadinho Mhango. With media reports and comments that the bullets fc faces a fair side in the first round, the technical panel decided to make an experiment line up. Among others, they trusted the posts with Swadick Sanudi who has not been playing regularly after returning from his South Africa football side.

 However, the experiment started to prove costly when the posts guard felt like dreaming after two hurricane shots went past him into the net within the first half. The wonder kid Gabadinho also unfortunately failed to perform his usual play before his childhood friends because of an injunction obtained by the solid defense of the youthful but skillful side. Owen Chaima came in for Swadick Sanudi at half time, but it was Heston Munthali who rediscovered the scoring formula by netting a consolation goal. However, it was not enough to calm down the sting of Eagles though their goalie was red-carded, because they had done it all in the first half. Final whistle Super Eagles 2 Bullets fc 1 and the police had to intervene with teargas to disperse the chaos that erupted thereafter.

 In Blantyre, it was Karonga vendors who dumped Blantyre united 1-0 at the BAT ground courtesy of a 2nd minute strike from Isaac Mwagomba. Civo united also booted out Bvumbwe Research 1-0.

 On the other hand, it was a no mercy weekend for Mighty Wonderers, Silver Strikers and Moyale fc.
At Balaka stadium the Mighty Wonderers squashed Cobbe barrack 5-0 to erase their melancholy performance in their previous weekend’s Tnm super league games. The result means that they will automatically meet Blue Eagles in the round of 16. This brings a temptation for the Lali Lubani side to revenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of the Blue Eagles in their last meeting. Silver strikers massacred support battalion 5-1 while Moyale fc squeezed down Thondwe fc 3-0. Blue Eagles triumphed 2-1 over Maicc fc.

 From the results, people must expect a different performance in the coming rounds. Small teams have already sent strong messages across that undermining them would be as costly as facing David with his sling.

“With fresh memories of what put a full stop to the cup in the past years, it is high time before it worsens to plead with all spectators not to resort to violence when their team lose. If you lose, perhaps it has not been your day, your opponent had prepared more than yourself and so forth. Let's allow families to come to the stadiums and enjoy themselves. Don’t forget our usual saying that we use when we get disappointed by the national team: ngakhale taluza tikadyabe (although we have lost we will have our normal eating)” said Thoko Mbewe, a soccer lover from Blantyre.

 “Who would want to miss the dribbles of Joseph Kamwendo, the goalkeeper punishers like Roddrick Gonani, Gerald yellowman Phiri, and many others. Don’t forget posts military guarding of Amadu Ali, Chipuwa, Swini and others. While enjoying the excellence of Messi, Ronaldo, RVP, Rooney, Drogba and others, let’s start domestically with Mecium, Lihuhu, Mwamtengere, Masoatheka and other local prayers in the Carlsberg Malawi cup.” Said Jones Kalima, from Ndirande.