Flames friendly for Algeria doubtful
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has confirmed that the Flames will not play a friendly match before facing the continents’ highest ranked team, Algeria, in their Group B Africa Cup of Nations encounter.
Both FAM and government said the reason is the lack of funds.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu and Minister of Sports Grace Chiumia told Nation on Sunday in separate interviews that the possibility for the Flames to play a friendly match in preparation for Algeria depends on availability of funds.
“We are having the same desire to have at least one friendly match before facing Algeria, but for that to happen there is need to have enough funds amounting to K70 million, which we don’t have currently,” said Nyamilandu.
On her part, Chiumia said government is facing financial problems and cannot manage to fund a friendly match.
The minister then appealed to the corporate world to come in so that the team should play a friendly match before facing Algeria.
“As of now government cannot manage to fund Flames’ friendly matches. Our focus is on the main event, which is the team playing Algeria. We would love to see the team, play friendly matches for thorough preparation, but government has no money for that.
However, we have approached several companies to come to our rescue,” said Chiumia
In an interview aired on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), several football pundits, including former Flames and Bullets coach Eddingtone Ng’onamo, highlighted the Flames need to play a friendly match before the Algeria game.
“The way the team is fairing demands more exposure. We need to play fast ball than the way we are playing now. It will be, therefore, vital to have a friendly match before the Algeria game if we are to overcome Algeria,” said Ng’onamo.
The Desert Foxes of Algeria, who are expecting to play Malawi on October 10, are leading Group B with six points whereas Mali and Malawi are tied at three points, but the former has a better goal difference of plus one.
Ethiopia is at the bottom without a point in two games played.
