Timau:Flames clinically dead but Kinnha believes corpse can be resuscitated
A game against Ghana at this stage of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) shouldn’t normally be of too much concern to a national team that has put to sleep African giants like Egypt, DRC Congo and reduced skilful teams like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Tunisia etc to chasers of their own shadows. But this time around it will be something of an ordeal for Malawi.
There are not many bigger matches in international football than Malawi vs. Ghana, and on Saturday, 13th October, 2012 afternoon, fans all around the warm heart of Africa as Malawi is popularly known will be treated to a prestigious Afcon game between the two great teams.
Kinnah is dreaming in colour and he still believes that his charges will make amends for their Accra cock ups. But promising the nation that Malawi will beat Ghana 3-0 seems to us a tall order, to put it in medical terms, Flames is clinically dead and to suggest that Flames can be resuscitated is some sort of wishful thinking identical to hiring an air ambulance from South Africa to air-lift a corpse to Garden City clinic in an anticipation of a miracle. We won’t be wrong to suggest that even Sepp Blater, the Fifa boss, will treat the Malawi 3 Ghana 0 result as one of his most memorable football results in his 14 year era as Fifa boss.
To cut a long story short, for Malawi to qualify to the rainbow country finals, they have to beat Ghana 3-0; having lost 2-0 inAccra, Ghana.
…What next
Malawians have to convince themselves that Ghana can be beaten inLilongwe come 13 October, 2012, how this will come about will depend on everybody’s efforts. Indeed, with conceited efforts,Malawi can send Ghana packing.
The Timau Crew now looks at what the nation can do to help our boys beat Ghana.
Government
In developing countries, this is the common practice where national government funds sports programmes. Is our national football team getting enough support from government? Yes and no! Government is the main sponsor of the national team but the helping hand does not go a far.
First and foremost, Malawi needs a friendly with a good side. It is not just playing a strong side that helps the coach and the players to win matches. In 1978, Malawi won the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup with full support from government. The national team camped in England. They played the reserve side of Manchester United and other division two teams. Why not send this team to Europe at least for two weeks.
We can not keep on saying that government does not have money, government has money! How on earth did we afford to send chiefs to America? How on earth did we afford to blow 308 million MK ($1.03 million) on a trip to USA? Where do ministers get money to buy fuel just to shadow the President everywhere she goes? And the nation is told that the government has no money to support its own national football team.
Hatred for the PP led government is growing by the day because of the souring economic situation. If the PP led government can let the national team prepare well and beat Ghana, people will forget all these problems as football success brings happiness in a country. At least people can be silent for a week or two as government plans the way forward.
Malawians
This is the time to show that we love our national team. We would like to see Civo stadium turn red on the 13th. We want the media to raise the hype for the boys.
The Team
Kinnah has already recalled Esau Kanyenda and Chiukepo Msowoya. Is our defence good? Defenders, James Sangala and Limbikani Mzava will not be available. Do we have stand by and reliable replacements? Is Peter Mponda still not fit, maybe just for this game?
Players to watch
Christian Atsu (7) gave Malawi defence hard times in Accra and should be heavily guarded in Lilongwe. Atsu created several chances for Ghana and Malawi was saved either by the goalkeeper or the goal posts.
Another player to watch out is Anthony Annan. Annan set the stadium agog with a 20-yard shot right from the break to make it 2-0 for the Black Stars. He should not be given space to shoot, he is dangerous.
We got this comment from World cup Blog and we report it verbatim:
Malawi to beat Ghana by at least 2 goals in Malawi?
If the defence will be as porous as it was today then Ghana will also score at least 2 goals. Malawi is known for conceding goals in the dying minutes but today conceded goals a few minutes into the first half and second half. All the two goals could have been avoided. Lack of concentration? Poor positioning? Unfit? Disadvantage of parking the bus in your own goal area? Disadvantage of zonal marking? Inexperienced? As for the 1st goal I think Malawi Captain Moses Chavula failed to clear the ball because he is left-footed. But should that be an excuse? (World cup blog)
..Our comment to the above quote
To begin with, we feel this was posted by a Ghanaian. Correction:Malawi needs to beat Ghana by 3 goals to nil and not 2.
Secondly, if this person watched the Ghana/Malawi game, he/she will agree with us that it is Ghana who had a porous defence. It was our strikers who were goal shy.
……what Kinnah can do
3-0 seems a mountain to climb but if the coach can work on finishing techniques, Ghana can be beaten 2-0 which can force the game into extra time and by extension penalties. So, Malawi should at least score 2 goals.
Undoubtedly, it requires a lot of joint effort from all of us to resuscitate the clinically dead Flames. .
As Usual, we, the Timau Crew and all soccer loving Malawians wish the Flames pleasant preparations for the Ghana game and hope that the Malawi government will heed our call.
“Out of the chaos God created the world”
“Out of the chaos the Flames qualified”
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