Legend Gibert Chirwa faults Malawi player selection

Legendary Malawi centre back Gilbert Chirwa , who is coach for a Super League side, Mzuni FC, says there is a big problem in player selection for the Malawi National Football Team and as such positive results are hard to come by.

Chirwa was speaking to sports journalists on Saturday when Voice of Livingstonia’s Allan Nyirenda wanted to know his expectation of game the flames were playing on the same night against the Atlas Lions of Morocco in Casablanca in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He said Morocco was an experienced side and it was going to be difficult for Malawi to beat them at their own back yard, adding that during his playing days they played Morocco four times but managed to win only once and lost thrice.

“I am not sure of the players that have been trusted to do the job in Morocco because these days the squad keeps changing unlike during our time when anybody who followed soccer could spell out the first eleven.

“These days every camp will have different players and it is so difficult for players to get used to each other.

“When I joined the national team as a centre back, there was a lot of time for us to study the likes of Jack Chamangwana, Reuben Malola and Harry Waya. We could be given chance to play friendly matches and a few last minutes of competitive matches when the team is leading. When these seniors retired, we took over with confidence, I and Young Chimodzi, in the central defence.

He added that the Flames squad was never changed anyhow and strikers like Frank Sinalo, midfielders like Cliffton Msiya and Peterkins Kayira were hard working players that never disappointed often times.

Many Malawians never gave the Flames chance against Morocco last Saturday and indeed they were mercilessly whipped 3 nil.

“I think our hope can be in the Under 20 and Under 17. If those teams are kept together with good coaches, maybe in future we can have a better national team,” concluded Chirwa.

The Flames are third in the four-team group. They are tied on three points with Morocco from two games apiece while Comoros, who held the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to a one-all draw on Saturday, anchor the table with a point.

Chirwa led Big  Bullets to several titles both as a coach and player.

As a Flames player, he was part of the team that qualified for the 1984 African Cup of Nations and All African Games in 1987.

He was also part of the squad that won the Confederation of East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in 1988.

Sharing is caring!