FAM seeks free friendly matches

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says it does not have funds to organise friendly matches stating that the Flames will only play if other countries offer to fully fund them.

Flames coach Ernest Mtawali, former captain Peter Mponda and other analysts have been asking FAM to organise strength testing matches for the team.

However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said in an interview on Wednesday that they are linking up with match agents to secure a fully-funded friendly match.

“Right now, we don’t have resources for friendly matches. Our only hope is that other associations will offer to play with us by agreeing to foot all the bills,” he said.

Nyamilandu was hopeful that they would secure the friendly match to be played between November 13 and 17 which is a Fifa sanctioned period for international games.

“During these days our foreign based players would be available because the days were recognised by Fifa. This is why we want to play next month,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nyamilandu has backed Mtawali, saying he is on the right track despite failing to guide Flames to the next round of the World Cup.

“Mtawali is making bold decisions and you can see this in his use of more young players. We regret that we did not appoint him long time ago,” he said.

Reacting to the friendly arrangement, the coach prayed that FAM manages to secure the matches, which he said will help him prepare for Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Guinea in March next year.

“We are still work in progress that is why it is important that the boys play some games before we meet Guinea. The friendly marches will help us to improve on our coordination,” he said.

Malawi is in group L of the 2017 Afcon qualifying round which is topped by Swaziland with four points seconded by Zimbabwe with the same number of points, but trail on goal difference.

Malawi is third with a point while Guinea anchors the table with one point as well. The group winner will qualify for the Gabon finals.