By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Flames Coach Mario Mariana Marinica has declined to quit his role despite the unpleasant performance of the team in the on going Ivory Coast 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON Qualifiers.
The Romanian coach told journalists in a post match briefing in the capital Lilongwe on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 after the Flames suffered a 0-4 humiliation at Bingu National Stadium to the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Responding to the question posed by Mavuto Kambuwe of Times Group, who asked the coach if it was the right time for him to quit after failing to achieve anything, thus far following the poor performance in COSAFA, failure to qualify to the finals of CHAN and now the struggle in the AFCON campaign.
“I am not a quitter, I am not quitting, and let me put it in this way, I don’t have the targets in my contract. About the reception from the fans, I think you saw yourself from the beginning when we were getting into the pitch, they cheered the visitors instead of their team, so it is their choice”, Marinica said.
Soccer fraternity chanted all over the stadium for removal of the coach after the unpleasant performance of the players who seemed to not come out for the party.
Marinica did not finish the game on the technical panel as there was fear that the angry fans could have manhandled him.
However, reports indicates that Marinica’ contract is ending on April 8 2023.
Meanwhile other supporters chanted carrying placards asking for the Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu to step down from his post as well claiming he is the one who is destroying the team.
The Malawi National Football Team has conceded six goals in two games they have played with Egypt, they lost 0-2 away in Cairo and lost 0-4 at home BNS.
The dreams of qualifying to the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations are now shuttered as they anchor the group D table with 3 points from 4 games.
Egypt now top the group with 9 points, Guinea who defeated Ethiopia on Monday are second with the same number of points and games only goal difference are separating the two.
Ethiopia are on third position with 3 points from 4 games.
Malawi are remaining with Guinea at home and Ethiopia away to wrap up the campaign.
