No vengeance on Chad, says FAM
Football Association of Malawi has said it will not even the score to the visiting Chad national soccer team for the ill treatment the Flames suffered twice in N’djamena.
The Chad national team arrived in the country on Tuesday afternoon through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.
Last October, the Chad FA offered the Flames sub-standard accommodation and a poor training pitch in N’djamena, when they went for the decisive 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Flames were also pelted with missiles by fans in Nd’jamena early this year during the first leg of the 2013 Afcon qualifier. The incident left striker Atusaye Nyondo injured. Malawi lost the game 3-2. Malawi’s two goals were scored by Nyondo.
However, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu and one of the Flames leading fans Yona Malunga on Tuesday said they will not retaliate the bad treatment.
Said Nyamilandu: “Malawi is a peace-loving country. We are known as the Warm Heart of Africa and their [Chad] safety and security is guaranteed both where they will be camping and at the venue of the match. We believe in settling the score in the field of play. We don’t believe in winning a match outside the field.”
Malunga, who is one of the Flames supporters’ interim leaders, said they have no plans for vengeance.
“If anything, we want them [Chad] to take a leaf and learn that we are one of the countries that is civilised,” he said.
According to FAM commercial manager Casper Jangale, Chad are accommodated at Alexander’s Shire Highlands Hotel in Limbe and will be training at Chiwembe Technical Centre.
Meanwhile, Jangale has said the pre-sale of entry tickets will start on Thursday in Blantyre and Lilongwe.
He said this time around, the tickets will not be sold in Mzuzu because the response prior to the Nigeria game was lukewarm.
He also said the tickets will be sold on the day of the match at a designated place near the stadium. Charges for the game are K10 000 (about $40) VIP, K5 000 (about $20) covered stands, K2 500 (about $10) MBC stand and K500 (about $2) open stands.
