Marinica to use Cosafa to build a strong team
Malawi National Football Team Mario Marian Marinica said he and his technical team are going to use the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup to build a strong team ahead of two crucial tournaments, the African Championship and African Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
Flames are expected to face Egypt in September back to back, home and away in the 2023 Ivory Coast African Cup of Nations Qualifiers and they will also face Zimbabwe in the 2023 Algeria African Championship.
Speaking in Blantyre after releasing the 23-man squad to play in Cosafa, the Romanian said the Flames are ready for the tournament.
Marinica said, “We have not had smooth preparations as we never had a full camp because of the Super League games and this has obviously affected our coordination in terms of imparting the fast and very fast football in the boys.
“However, we accepted the situation knowing that the tournament is not on FIFA window so we have worked with the players according to their availability and so far so good, we are all set for Cosafa.
Marinica added that they had ample time to understudy their opponents and they are aware of them all.
“We have had chances to assess how our opponents play and we will approach each match as it is so that we get results. We might have different targets with the rest of the teams but we want to use the Cosafa Cup to build a stronger squad than attacks more, create goal scoring opportunities as well as denies scoring chances for our opponents,” He said.
Marinica released a strong 30-man squad on Friday morning to play in the tournament which starts on July 5.
He included some uncapped players such as Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder, Patrick Mwaungulu, Civo’s Centre-Half, Kelvin Kadzinje, Dan Chimbala of Mafco among others in his squad.
Blue Eagles’ Centre Half, Sankhani Mkandawire has returned to national duty after six years so too his teammate Schumacker Kuwali and Big Bullets left back Precious Sambani.
Marinica also named Chiukepo Msowoya, Gabadinho Mhango, John Banda, Khuda Muyaba, and Peter Banda among his arsenals to lift the Cup.
Below is the squad:
Goalkeepers: Ernest Kakhobwe, Clever Mkungula
Defenders: Stanley Sanudi, Paul Ndhlovu, Blessings Mpokera, Gomezgani Chirwa, Precious Sambani, Kelvin Kadzinje, Dan Chimbalanga, Sankhani Mkandawire
Midfielders: John Banda, Chimwemwe Idana, Peter Banda, Yamikani Chester, Micium Mhone, Chikoti Chirwa, Lloyd Njaliwa, Patrick Maungulu,
Strikers: Ganadinho Mhango, Khuda Muyaba, Stenie Davie, Chikukepo Msowoya, Schumaker Kuwali
The Flames have this morning left for Durban, South Africa for the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup.
A group of 17 players plus team officials has left through Chileka International Airport in Blantyre for Johannesburg where they will connect to Durban later in the afternoon.
Three Mighty Wanderers players Stanley Sanudi, Chiukepo Msowoya and Yamikani Chester will join the team tommorow.
Mozambique based midfielder John Banda, Polokwane FC striker Khuda Myaba and Peter Banda who plays in Tanzania will join the team straight from their respective bases.
They will start their tournament with a tough game on Wednesday, July 6 against Lesotho before facing Eswatin days later. They will finish the group stage games against Mauritius on Sunday, July 10.
