Tag Archives: Limbikani Mzava

Malawi, Sports

Flames set to spoil Lions party

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment
Flames players

Flames coach Meck Mwase says his charges aim at finishing their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualfying campaign on a positive note by getting results in their last two matches.

Malawi face Cameroun at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon before winding up their group D assignments with a tie against Mozambique away in Benin.

Flames are out of contention to qualify for the next round of the competition but Mwase said they would like to win the two matches to build the team’s confidence ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in January.

“It has been a very good camp that we had here in South Africa, the morale is high in camp. Everything that we wanted to cover for the two matches has been done. We don’t have injuries or suspensions so we have everybody at our disposal.

“They are formality games yes, but there is pride at stake. For us these are preparatory games for the AFCON, so we want to win to build a positive mentality ahead of AFCON.

” We don’t have pressure and we have told the boys to go out there and enjoy their game. Pressure is on Cameroun as a loss will end their chances of making it to the next round. We want to spoil their party,” he said.

He added that he may give a run to a number of players in the squad who have not played any minute of the qualifiers.

“As preparatory games, we are going to try as many players as possible to see who is ready for the big stage,” said Mwase.

Captain Limbikani Mzava, who turned 28th on Friday, said the matches will give the coach and the team a picture of what to expect at the AFCON.

“Everyone is looking forward to these matches and we want to get maximum points.  Today is my birthday and yesterday was FAM President one and the boys can only get a win as birthday present to us ,” said Mzava.

The Flames are third in group D with three points from four games and their only win came at home against Mozambique back in September.

Ivory Coast, who beat Flames back-to-back last month, lead the group with 10 points, one more than Cameroun.

Malawi, Sports

Flames ready to break the jinx

Maneno Chimulala
Flames ready to break the jinx

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—The Malawi national football faces Cameroon tomorrow as the World Cup qualification campaign starts in the African region.

The Flames have not won against Cameron since 1987, meaning that the side has only won once in last seven competitive fixtures.

Malawi beat Cameron 3-1 in the African games in 1987 after which they have drawn twice and lost twice.

The sides last met on 16 October 2018, a match that ended goalless at Kamuzu Stadium in the Afcon qualification race.

But Flames captain Limbikan Mzava is upbeat the side is capable of breaking the jinx tomorrow.

Later on Tuesday, the Flames will play host to Mozambique at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.

Flames are in group D alongside Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chose South Africa as alternative home ground for the Flames 2022 World Cup qualifiers after Confederation of African Football (CAF) declaring the Bingu International Stadium in Lilongwe unfit to host World Cup qualifiers.

Sports

Flames’ players on cloud nine as FAM fulfills pledge

Maravi Post Reporter
Flames celebrating after qualifying for AFCON

 The Football Association of Malawi on Thursday fulfilled its pledge to pay the Flames game bonuses within 30 days by giving the players and officials their win bonuses for the two 2021 AFCON qualifying matches against South Sudan and Uganda.

FAM has also given the players an extra K 1 million bonus for qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The players are entitled to a K500,000.00 bonus for a win, for those that feature in a match, while unused substitutes get half amount and those not in match day squad receive K125,000.00.

This means that the players who played in the two games in March have received K1 million each.

In October last year, FAM pledged a qualification bonus of K1 million per player who have played at least 75% of the total number of games in the qualifiers.

The Flames played six games during the just ended qualifiers meaning that players that were part of the squad in four or more games have received K1 million.

Those that were part of the team for three matches have received K 500,000. 00 while those for two games and below got K 333.000.00.

FAM General Secretary Alfred Gunda said the Association is committed to ensure the players are motivated by ensuring that it fulfils its pledges.

“We are delighted to honour our pledge to the players for qualifying to the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroun 2022 with a cool MK1 million each. This is on top of their new game bonus of MK500, 000 each which yields a further MK1 million for the last two matches against South Sudan and Uganda.

“We had to dig deep into our coffers to fulfil our promise as a reward for making Malawi proud. The turnaround of performance was incredible having not conceded a goal in the second round nor lost any match. We remain committed to motivating the players to go the extra mile by maintaining the new incentive policy which has worked to good effect.,” said Gunda.

Flames captain Limbikani Mzava confirmed receiving the funds and thanked FAM for keeping their promise.

“FAM has never paid us late and we knew they would honour their pledge. We now shift focus to preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which start in June,” said Mzava.

Source: Football Association of Malawi

Top News

Prophet Bushiri ready to bankroll Flames’ AFCON Tournament; asks FAM to submit budget

Maravi Post correspondent

Flames: fails to participate in two continental tournaments due to lack of funding

BLANTURE-(MaraviPost) – South Africa-Malawian based Prophet Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG), announced this week he is ready to bail out the Malawi nation football team, the Flames. The firebrand prophet that is a household name in malawi and South African said he will release funds for the flag carrier to participate in the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Prophet Bushiri’s offer comes barely a week after Football Association of Malawi (Fam) dropped the bombshell when it announced that it will withdraw theFlames participation in both the 2019 AFCON and the 2018 Champion of African Nations (CHAN) due to lack of funds.

The football governing body further said it suspending the recruitment of the national team’s couch until such a time that government has adequate resources to fund the recruitment.

To participate in the two competitions, FAM needs to spend MK200 million and earn some money from gate collections and broadcasting rights. The association has already exhausted its MK39 million funding for 2016/2017 financial year.

In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post on Saturday, Prophet Bushiri’s Communications Officer Ephraim Nyondo, said the offer rest in the hands of FAM to approach him using appropriate procedures.

Nyondo therefore asked the FAM to present its budget which will be scrutinized by the Prophet’s financial managers.

“It has been always been (Prophet Bushiri’s) wish to support the Flames saying the team carries Malawi’s Flag and is a continental showpiece,” said Nyondo.

FAMPresident Walter Nyamilandu, confirmed Bushiri’s offer with grateful appreciation. He said the association will consult on the matter with the necessary authorities before taking the package.

The development has excited Flames captain Limbikani Mzava who described the offer as a timely gesture. He urged the authorities to grab the opportunity without delay.

In 2016, Prophet Bushiri also supported the Flames with a MK44 million donations for the national team to meet the costs of 2017 AFCON back-to-back qualifiers against Guinea’s Sylli Nationale.