Sunday, February 28, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports Sunday shot

We love a game we don’t understand

by Peter Kanjere
19/10/2014
in Sunday shot
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

The ongoing 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers have once again exposed Malawi as a dubious football nation that, through the Flames, tries to cheat its way to success using short-cuts paved by wild emotions and lust for miracles.

Thankfully, statistics reveal that in 50 years the Flames have barely made Afcon finals twice and never won any worthwhile trophy. No country glorifies Cecafa cups the way Malawians do.

RelatedHeadlines

Why hiring expatriate TD makes more sense

Football tumour that is FAM affiliate

Next FAM president

Additionally, the 2014 statistics show plainly that in four of the six Afcon qualifiers that the Flames have played, they conceded goals in added time.

In two of these four matches, the Flames also conceded inside the first opening 15 minutes. In two other matches, the Flames let in goals late in the first half.

Concentration lapses that are common in amateurish teams are evident here.

In summary, the Flames have won thrice, drawn twice and lost eight games under Young Chimodzi while conceding 19 goals and scoring six.

These statistics represent the truth that the Flames lack professionals that can efficiently defend and score. They just dance with the ball.

This truth must free you of any false hopes being peddled that the Flames can qualify for 2015 Afcon finals.

If anything these expectations that are unreasonably placed on the Flames can only lead to one logical conclusion: Malawians love a game they hardly understand.

We have reduced football to kicking the ball. Yet, the Flames are supposed to be a final product of long-term investment in research, talent development and marketing. This demands specific targets, timelines and objectives.

Unfortunately, beyond the speeches and the documents, FAM does not even know who will coach and captain the Flames 10 years from now.

None of the local football administrators, from those of the 1970s, had a vision for the game. That is why clubs such as Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers do not have capital investments. The less that is said about Sulom and its ailing domestic league, the better.

Thankfully, we love a game that teaches humility, shuts you up, catches you red-handed and sobers you up.

Previous Post

Japanese top Judo instructor in to train Malawians

Next Post

Rambling thoughts on Africa’s poverty

Related Posts

Sunday shot

Why hiring expatriate TD makes more sense

July 12, 2015
Sunday shot

Football tumour that is FAM affiliate

June 28, 2015
Sports

Next FAM president

June 14, 2015
Next Post

Rambling thoughts on Africa’s poverty

Opinions and Columns

My Diary

Light that came with Covid-19

February 27, 2021
Guest Spot

Resurgence of albino killings deplorable

February 27, 2021
Back Bencher

Is violence a boomerang effect in DPP?

February 27, 2021
Off the Shelf

Sacrificial lambs of a dysfunctional system

February 27, 2021

Trending Stories

  • Court has declared Escom a private firm

    Court declares Escom private company

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • K1.7bn Chisale assets seized

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • HRDC alleges threats, intimidation from investor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What the hell is APM doing with BJ?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Admarc secures K430bn to revamp operations

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.