Flames want to regroup early May

Flames coaching panel has said it will propose to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that the team should regroup early May in preparation for their next 2014 World Cup return matches against Namibia’s Brave Warriors and Kenya’s Harambee Stars, respectively.

One of the assistant coaches Patrick Mabedi said the plan is that the team should go into camp early May and play at least one international friendly match to tune up for the two World Cup qualifiers.

“According to the meeting that we had with the head coach [Eddington Ng’onamo], the suggestion was that we should go into camp early May, but that will depend on consultations with FAM,” said Mabedi.

Meanwhile, Mabedi and fellow assistant coach Ernest Mtawali have returned to South Africa to report to work as per agreement with FAM that they would only come during assignments.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda on Monday said they were still waiting for official communication from Fifa on the actual dates of the games.

“The tentative dates that we have are that we are supposed to host Namibia during the weekend of June 7 to 9 and then Kenya a week later.

“But then, we are still waiting for official communication from Fifa on the actual dates because they indicated that some games could be played midweek and that means the game against Namibia might be played on June 5 while that against Kenya could take place on June 12.

“We expect to get the communication from Fifa by next week,” said Nyirenda.

The Flames are currently joint top of Group F with Nigeria on five points, but the Super Eagles have the bragging rights courtesy of a better aggregate.

Malawi beat Namibia 1-0 on Saturday through Gabadinho Mhango’s 70th minute strike.