By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Salima Secondary School Boys Football Team on Saturday, April 8, 2023 won a bronze in the Inaugural CAF School’s Championship in Durban, South Africa.
The boys defeated Sainte Rita 3-1 courtesy of Blessings Sakala, Ishmael Bwanali and Latumbikika Kayira.
Earlier Salima lost 2-0 to Ben Sekou in the semifinals.
Salima held the host Clampham High School of South Africa in their opening match before losing 2-0 to Ceg Sainte Rita of Benin before defeating Cem Belaouche Mouhend with goals from Blessings Sakala and Innocent Banda.
Salima Secondary School Boys will pocket US$150,000 (about MK150 million) for finishing third.
Charles Nyirenda, the country’s renowned sports analyst in hailed the boys for the grant performance saying this is just a signal that if as a country put proper strategies on grassroots we can start bringing results to the nation.
Nyirenda has since appealed to Malawi government and Super League teams to work hand in hand with Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA) if we are to build strong National teams.
“We have starved for Victories as a country now this is a clear signal that if we do correct things with the youths, possibilities of doing well in Senior levels are there, don’t forget in 1987 Malawi got bronze in Nairobi at all African games where they defeated Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon and the following year they won CECAFA senior challenge, so it is encouraging because they have managed to beat teams with big names.
“We must develop youth football to a point where things happening on the pitch match the one that is happening in the office. MASSA has been taken lightly for many many year. But it is the same MASSA which was responsible when Malawi was doing well.
Blackson Malamula MASSA President who is the leader of the delegation hailed the boys for the fight saying to reach the highest level it wasn’t easy as they faced age cheating setbacks by some other counterparts.
“We had a number of challenges here more especially age cheating from counterparts hence the low start as we failed to rise to the occasion but we talked to them that this is competition let’s pull up our socks and rise to the occasion so that we make people back home proud”,
” This achievement is for the Malawians, these are young boys who need to be groomed, nurtured and kept together. This is the future Flames,” Malamula joyfully explained.
The Durban CAF School’s Championship is one of the richest Schools events in Africa with Motsepe Foundation pumping in USD10 million in Prize.
