Chakwera hosts Malawi national football team: ‘Do not go to Afcon as underdogs’
President Lazarus Chakwera has urged the Malawi national football team nicknamed the Flames, to stay focused and not be the whipping boys in the 2022 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.
Chakwera, who is the former Malawi National Sports Council board chair, sounded the encouraging remarks Thursday afternoon when he hosted the victorious Flames team at the State Residence in Lilongwe.
The Malawi leader said: “Be resolute and stay focussed. You have everything you need to be be a force to reckon with. Do not go there with a we are small team attitude. You must believe in yourselves. When you believe, anything is possible.”
President Chakwera congratulated the Malawi national team for their boisterous win against the Cranes of Uganda at Kamuzu Stadium Monday this week to secure their place in the Afcon finals, which was marked by an expressive of exuberance and high spirits.
The Malawi leader encouraged the team to have self-confidence and never look themselves down as underdogs.
Chakwera, quoting Mark Twain, said: “It’s not the the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
The President urged the coach Meke Mwase and the players that they must to engage an extra gear and go to the Afcon finals with determination to be winners.
Said Chakwera: “We must go beyond just qualifying for the finals. We must aim to win the subsequent games so that we can bring the trophy home. Nothing is impossible.”
In his remarks, Flames captain, John Banda standing in for the South African-based Malawi national team skipper, Limbikani Mzava said: “Your Excellency Sir, our win against Uganda is a gift to you and we promise that we will give our very best in this competition and we sincere thank you for your government’s support.”
Banda appealed to the President to consider the players’ accommodation welfare by putting in place a scheme that would help Flames players to have houses.
“I would like to ask your Excellency’s government to consider the Flames players to be granted access to soft loans.
“I would also like to ask for your indulgence for more resources for the team. Also may you consider those players working in Malawi Police services or the Malawi Defence Force for promotion as well as all those working in the civil service as an incentive,” said Banda.
The Flames captain implored the President “for his government to improve on the national coaches remuneration packages.”
Meke Mwase’s coached side is routing to bring silverware from the Africa Cup of Nations as they have just qualified for the third time in their history, having previously competed in the finals in both 1984 and 2010.
The Flames last qualified for AFCON in 2010 when Chakwera was Board Chair of the Malawi Council of Sports.
Malawi opened their Group B campaign with a 1-0 victory over South Sudan but then suffered back-to-back defeats to the top two sides in the section, Uganda and Burkina Faso.
A draw at home to Burkina Faso followed in November 2020 before recording a 1-0 victory away to South Sudan on Wednesday courtesy of a second-half effort from their talisman Richard Mbulu.
Malawi occupied a third spot in the group, one point behind Uganda, meaning that they desperately needed to win last Monday’s game ensure their spot in the finals of the competition, which begins in January 2022.
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That’s good gesture from the president
My observation is that local coaches are better than azungu who just waste n milk us to the core. Now you need to compare the incentives you give foreign coaches n the peanuts you shame our Malawian coaches. Make a better decision today never to waste money on fake coaches. Kinna took our nation to Angola AFCON in 2010 n here we are with Meke to Cameroon. Look into the benefits again n do something.
Go the Flames go and BURN them show them what u r made of, we will be the 12’th player with you
In Malawi we need people like you who encourage the team instead of criticizing big up a’m with you for this one
To be honest, and although I voted for this so called Tonse Alliance, this leadership has nothing in store for the development of this nation. There is absolutely no meaning and no gain to attend to these petty and useless issues of hosting this miserable team which we all know qualified miraculously and will obviously be at the AFCON in attendance. Please let us be strategic and developmental in our state use of resources. Bwana Chakwera, you are full of attending to very petty issues, this presidency is nothing but a waste of our opportunity in time. Malawi will regret.
You mean what was in store was Dope and udf reign of hunger.The Engel in heaven will laugh at you.4million tons of maize in a year is record breaking.
If you have nothing to do, don’t do it here
I guess you’re still crying for your grandfather, Peter mutharika to be the president . I believe you’re a hardcore mulako wa alomwe. Your time has expired. Malawians have voted you out to retirement house in mangochi.
Those players need money not just hosting
Kodi angokadyako basi sanapatsidwe kangachepe
Marks credit is given where it’s due…
Well done bwana president…
Sizonyambititsanazo.. Our leader just follow what is already in place….
Our flames is well paid than any other president we have bn and that’s the more reason other president didn’t even invite the team to the state House because they had nothing to offer… Only greetings to the cadets who only brought misery to an already depleted nation….
Angozo mwatani ?pa chimalawi chathu kaya maliro timapepesana ndikenakake mmanja nanji pa chikondwelero i.e chikhoswe, ukwati, birthday, bridal shower etc timachita chimodzimodzi. Chonde musawapondeleze ma playerwa
Imeneyi idea ya a Minister of Sports! Lol…f i was the president i would have sent the flames to camp right away! Nthawi yonyambitirana inatha..the flames will esrn their resoect f they reach anadvanced stage in the finals or else win the trophy osat kungopanga qualify basi kuwanyambitira palipose.shiiiet!
The flames should go to Cameroon as the defending champions because they won it last time in 2019 when they defeated Algeria, where mzava was player of tournament and gaba was top goalscorer. Lucius banda when he was real Lucius, sang a song about giving advice to the young, he said don’t tell them they will be police officers because when they become prisoners they will weep.
Flames cannot win afcon trophy stop misleading them.
Thank God you’re not in the squad beca6 Flames was going to lose and not win the afcon cup. Since you’re not in the squad the Flames are going to win the afcon cup.