Malawi Flames lost a friendly match Sunday to Zambia continuing with their inconsistent play as a senior team official admitted the Flames lost because “Zambia featured a stronger side”.
Jack Chamangwana who was known for his defensive prowess downing number 5 for the Flames and mighty nomads in his heydays should have been the last to state “we were underdogs”.
Many in Malawi knew that the bus headed for Zambia was packed with under achievers, a fact that Jack Chamangwana and coach Chimodzi were hired to resolve.
The Zambian team on the other hand was indeed at full strength at the weekend’s home friendly against the Flames.
Their arsenal included elite regulars from TP Mazembe led by Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba, midfielder Given Singuluma and defender Kabaso Chongo.
Also in were defender Aaron Katebe of Zimbabwean club FC Platinum. “Katebe also arrived on Wednesday and was part of training in the afternoon,” Kamwambi said.
The quartet was preceded by midfielder Nathan Sinkala who joined the team late on Tuesday after he got an early release for Zambia duty from Mazembe.
Sinkala recently recovered from a long-term injury sustained in January before returning to Mazembe following the expiry of his six-month loan deal at Swiss club Grasshopper.
With the five player’s in house, Zambia coach Honour Janza had six high-profile names available to face Malawi at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka ton Sunday. Midfielder Felix Katongo of Egyptian club Al Ittihad was the first to join camp last Sunday in Lusaka.
But it appears coach Young Chimodzi, meanwhile, banked his hopes of pulling a surprise against the Flames using a weak side comprising home-based players alone.
Be Forward Wanderers in-form striker Muhamad Sulumba made the squad alongside team mates Isaac Kaliati and Malumbo Gondwe.
Other surprise inclusions in the squad were Amos Khamula (Airborne Rangers), Chikoti Chirwa (Red Lions) and Tizgobele Kumwenda (Silver Strikers) and Pilirani Zonda (Big Bullets) who was drafted in late.
Malawi and Zambia were using the friendly as build-up ahead of their title defence of the Cosafa Castle Cup to be hosted by South Africa from May 17-31.
Flames Full squad: Richard Chipuwa (Be Forward Wanderers), McDonald Harawa (Moyale Barracks).
Midfielders: Chikoti Chirwa (Red Lions), Micium Mhone, John Banda (both Blue Eagles), Fischer Kondowe (Big Bullets), Ernest Tambe (Surestream FC), Malumbo Gondwe (Be Forward Wanderers), Victor Limbani (Silver Strikers).
Midfielders: Peter Wadabwa (Silver Strikers), Isaac Kaliati, Muhamad Sulumba (both Be Forward Wanderers), Amos Khamula (Supporters Battalion), Tizgobele Kumwenda (Silver Strikers).
And then we came back complaining “Zambia played a strong side”.
