Hard life for Flames
Their first names were as frightening as their ruthless performance: Washington Arubi, Knowledge Musona, Kingstone Nkhata and the hardest of them of all, Hardlife Zvirekwi.
These Zimbabwe Warriors put hosts Malawi to the sword with a ruthless and controlled display that gave birth to four goals equitably shared by goalkeeper Simplex Nthala and his substitute Charles Swini. Atusaye Nyondo glanced in the solitary consolation.
This was 90 minutes of hard life indeed for the Flames on a hot Kamuzu Stadium afternoon. Suddenly, the home crowd rebelled against their shambolic home side wearing red and seeing red.
Zimbabwe! Zimbabwe! They clapped hands and cheered on Robert Mugabe’s men in green and gold strips. The Warriors’ clean-shaven coach Ian Gorowa flashed a made-in Chitungwiza smile but his counterpart on the Flames’ bench Young Chimodzi crossed his arms on his chest.
Three days of training a team that was non-existent for six months against a Warriors side that has in the last eight months reached African Nations Championship (Chan) semi-finals and Cosafa finals is an unpleasant job for Chimodzi.
“We have seen quite a number of mistakes but there were also positives. We need more friendlies,” Chimodzi pleaded but only the press understood him. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and government hardly did.
Neither of the Flames goalkeepers made a worthwhile save. For Nthala, recalled after being dumped by freelancer coach Tom Saintfiet after a feeble Cosafa Cup display, this was not a simple reunion. Having conceded two goals last September in Nigeria, Swini too had a fair share of the misery.
As Joseph Kamwendo opted for showboating with deft ball controls, short non-progressive passes in circles meant to entertain and impress, Willard Katsande and company opted for efficiency, organisation and discipline.
Malawi’s pressing and aggression were non-existent. The Flames appeared like colourful dancers and the Warriors ruthless foot soldiers. They stroked the ball around and counter-attacked through right-back Zvirekwi and left-winger Kudakwashe Mahachi.
Malawi’s defence was slow to react. Most experienced men in defence, Harry Nyirenda and captain Moses Chavula were steady but they did not lead their inexperienced colleagues Lucky Malata and Pilira Zonda. Malawi defended too deep and made too many square passes.
The defence lacked the V-shape with a clear sweeper’s role. Nkhata’s throw-in was not cleared and Peter Moyo scored.
Nyondo’s equaliser after break only sparked more life in Zimbabwe. Nkhata drilled the ball above and over Malawi defence allowing Mahachi on the blind side time and space to jump, open his foot and score.
With the second goal, Nthala’s afternoon ended there and Swini’s had just begun. And four minutes later on the 71st minute the Silver man conceded. Nkhata again with a long ball picked Pasca Manhanga who chipped the ball into the net.
Mahachi then left Chavula for dead on the left, shrugged off two more defenders and cut back onto the path of Nkhata who laid the final wreath on Malawi’s coffin.
Even from this rubble, Chimodzi could pick positives, especially in his charges’ transition from the back to attack.
But there is a long way before he can have a solid team.
