Malawi national football team, the Flames arrived home yesterday via Kamuzu International Airport without fanfare after back-back-back losses to Morocco on Saturday in the 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier and Kenya in an international friendly on Tuesday.
Their flight landed at 2am and there was no official from either Football Association of Malawi (FAM) or Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development to welcome them as it has been in the past, according to Rainbow Television.
Only the media was present and coach Ronny Van Geneugden (RVG) briefly talked to them before heading for Blantyre.
A FAM bus picked up the players, with those residing in Lilongwe, dropping home before proceeding with Blantyre-based players.
Meanwhile, a march aimed at petitioning FAM to terminate the contract of the coach due to poor performance, has been put on hold.
The organisers of the march, which was expected to start from Limbe Magistrate’s Court to FAM Mpira House in Chiwembe said the police advised them to reschedule the event since President Peter Mutharika was opening the National Agriculture Trade Fair in Blantyre yesterday.
Leader of the supporters, Ajasi Kalowe, confirmed the change, saying a new date will be set.
“We have just postponed the march. Otherwise, it is still on. We are not relenting,” he said.
Flames’ loss to Morocco and Kenya means RVG’s record stands at six losses, nine draws, five losses and two victories in 17 competitive and friendly matches.
Malawi face Cameroon in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers on October 10 and 13.
