Front PageNational Sports

Scorchers bag cosafa awards

Malawi National Women’s Football Team, the Scorchers, have bagged multiple awards, including best coach and most improved team at the 2021 Cosafa Women’s Championship played in South Africa in October.

A report from Council of Southern African Footballl Associations (Cosafa) technical study group comprising CAF instructors Beauty Mwamba, Gaironissa Daniels, Fran Hilton Smith, Leah Sweetness Masango, Douleen Whitebooi, released yesterday named Scorchers coach, McNerbert Kazuwa, as the best coach at the tournament after guiding Malawi to the final where they lost 1-0 to guest team Tanzania.

Kazuwa: I am honoured

The Scorchers’ have been named as the most improved side with two players, winger-cum athlete Asimenye Simwaka and defender Ireen Khumalo selected in the tournament’s best XI.

The report reads in part: “Overall, this was a good tournament, which delivered some surprises. The greatest improvement was Malawi who managed to reach the semi-finals in 2011 and then again in 2020; finally reaching the finals in 2021.

“This evidently show the work that has been done by the Football Association of Malawi in the development of women’s football. The quality of football displayed at the finals is a step in the right direction for women’s football in Africa.”

Among others, the report states that Malawi’s defence was compact with a deep block and high pressing.

The Scorchers transition through the midfield was rapid in both attack and defence and overlapping, counter attacks, combinations and wing play, it says.

The report mentions defenders Chimwemwe Madise, Patricia Nyirenda, full backs Ruth Nyirongo and Irene Khumalo, captain Madyina Nguluwe, winger Asimenye Simwaka, strikers Sabinah Thom and Fazila Chembekezo as the most influential players in the squad.

“Our finalists, Tanzania, Malawi, both have physically and mentally strong players, with good wingers. This was a battle of the midfield,” reads the report further.

Reacting to the award, Kazuwa said he was honoured to be recognised as the best coach among the 12 that were with their teams at the tournament.

National Women’s Football Association chairperson Suzgo Ngwira said the Scorchers deserved the recognition after a fantastic tournament.

She said: “It is a very good development for Malawi women’s football. It just shows that we are on the right track. As a country we are sitting on gold, it just needs for all stakeholders to come in and support for I strongly believe the team is ripe for World Cup qualification.”

Football Association of Malawi youth and technical subcommittee chairperson Tiya Somba Banda congratulated Kazuwa for the recognition.

He said: “This isn’t a mean achievement to be recognised as the best in the region. It just cements the fact that there is a lot of potential in women’s football and we should start consolidating these gains with proper supporting structures both technical, tactical and financial.”

Related Articles

Back to top button