Women’s TZ friendly cancelled

Malawi women national football team’s plans of ending self-induced break from international matches has suffered a big blow after Tanzania pulled out from the Saturday strength testing match.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) yesterday got communication from the visitors on their failure to travel to Malawi because of that country’s Sunday General Elections.

FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said Tanzania’s Ministry of Sports had advised the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) for the team not to travel during the elections.

“Because of reasons beyond our control, we will not have the international friendly as planned. We hope we can have the international friendly before the end of the year.

“Tanzania will be having General Elections on Sunday. The Tanzania FA sought clearance from their Sports Ministry, unfortunately they were denied,” Nyirenda said yesterday.

The international friendly was the team’ opportunity to re-launch the international recognition since it was set as a tool in the November Fifa rankings.

The team, which was camping at Chiwembe Technical Centre, wanted to use the international friendly to tune up for the Cosafa Cup to be hosted by Seychelles in March next year.

The international friendly would have marked the national team’s return from a self-induced two-year break for the rebuilding exercise following some embarrassing defeats in Cosafa Cup, including 2-8 loss to Zimbabwe and 1-5 beating by South Africa. n