Flames face Eswatini in a must win game

After a disappointing result in their Group B opening match against Lesotho in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup on Wednesday, Mario Marian Marinica and his charges are returning in actions today in a decisive game against the free-scoring Eswatin.

The Malawi National Football Team suffered a 2-1 setback to Lesotho on independence day to give themselves a mountain to climb if they are to make it to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

ESwatini who top the table are coming from a thumping 3-0 victory over Mauritius and they are likely to give Flames a tough time.

A win for Flames will give them hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the tournament going into the last game against Mauritius on Sunday.

A win for ESwatini will give them a big chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the tournament as they will just avoid a defeat in their last game against Lesotho who occupy the second place.

The Head of Technical Panel, Mario Marian Marinica believes his charges are geared to grab the victory today but doubts the possibility of his team to win the tournament.

The Romanian believes the team is on the right track despite a 2-1 defeat in their opening match in the COSAFA tournament.

“We have a national philosophy ‘play fast and very fast football'” says Marian.

“Talking about possession in the modern football it doesn’t mean anything. Possession its just a number, you have to look at scoring goals and am not a fan of having more possession but winning matches,” added Marian.

Concurring with his boss, Flames in-stand captain John Banda while Knowing that it won’t be a straightforward task, he is confident that the team will yank the victory in today’s game against Eswatini.

The UD Songo midfielder says players are feeling Malawians’ pain with the result of their first game but vouched that they will try their level best to amass all the needed points this afternoon.

“It’s very painful that we lost the first game,” said Banda. It wasn’t the result that we wanted, we take the responsibility for that result.

“We did not do the right thing. There were some mistakes that could have been avoided but that’s how football is all about, let’s forget that and forge ahead.

“We have another assignment this afternoon, all what we need is to concentrate and fight hard because we have a good team. We just need to believe in ourselves.

“It will be tough for us to qualify to the next level,we need to play our lungs out to get a positive result,we have remained with two games to go but I am hopeful that we will fight hard and bag in six points in our two remaining games,”he said.

A defeat will be bad for Marian as he is underpressure as fans and former Flames players are criticising his style of play and fielding of players.

Former Silver Strikers star, Peter Pindani questions Marinica’s capabilities of being a coach at a highest level and wrecked Football Association of Malawi for backing him.

“That Marinica guy is not a coach at all. A waste of our already depleted resources. Zero tactics. Umve. Mabi. Nyasi. It is disgusting. Then FAM officials will back him. They will tell you he is better than Meck Mwase. They will present some crazy data without any statistical backing.” Said Pindani.

Another Flames player, Esau Kanyenda also says the Romanian tactician does not know how to make reactions and come up with a product.

“It looks like the carpenter don’t know what to do with his own tools. Try to put your own tools in right places, results will start flowing.” Said Kanyenda.

Ntopwa FC owner, Isaac Jomo Osman reverberated the two ex-players voices claiming sacking Marinica can just be the right decision before it too late.

“We don’t want you [Marinica] mmh my foot, just leave our nation team you are killing our lovely game. what kind of coach are you?” Wrote Jomo.

Eswatini are yet to register a win over Malawi in 5 meetings. Malawi have a record of one win while the four games ended in stalemate.

Flames were booted out of the African Championship by Eswatin in 2019 on away goal ruled as the game ended one all at Kamuzu and goalless in Eswatini.

In 2017 Malawi beat Eswatini 1-0 in African Cup of Nations qualifiers at Kamuzu Stadium courtesy of Gerald Phiri Junior.

Malawi occupy third place with zero points and the winner of the group will face Senegal in the quarterfinals.