How Malawi quickly moved on from Flames 2021 AFCON qualifying Squad

By Antony Isaiah Jr & Wellington Sibale

Three years and two months have gone since Malawi confirmed their return to the upper-echelon Totalenergies African Cup of Nations in 2021, that was after 10 years when they qualified for the 2010 edition. Do they dream of returning so soon?

The Flames needed the win on the last day against Uganda at home to book their spot and somehow, they ground the results, and ecstasy immersed Malawians.

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Since then, three coaches have overseen the team’s dugout. Current Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Coach, Meke Mwase was the man behind the team’s historical moment, Mario Marian Marinica took over the helm from Mwase, and Patrick Mabedi was named the Head coach after the Romanian-born Briton manager was relieved of his duty.

Not only have coaches been struggling to keep their place on the team, but also players have been called and dropped by the respective coaches.

Mwase’s team that qualified for AFCON in 2021 had stability and consistency but Marinica kept on changing the players and he has also passed on his DNA to Mabedi who was his assistant coach.

During the 2021 qualifiers, Meke used just two partnerships in central defense, Charles Petro and Peter Cholopi but none of either is being called by the current coach.

From the team that started against Uganda in March 2021, only three players are still playing for the team. The then Head Coach for the Flames, Meke Mwase started with Ernest Kakhobwe in goals and the return of Captain Limbikani Mzamva was a boost for the team thereby relegating Cholopi to the bench as he partnered with Petro who was playing for Sheriff Traspol.

John Banda started as a single pivot in midfield with Peter Banda, Robbin Ngalande, Gerald Phiri, and Khuda Muyaba playing slightly above him while Richard Mbulu, the scorer of the lone goal was the leading player in the attacking phase.

Since Patrick Mabedi took over the helm, only Stanley Sanudi and Christopher Banda have been called into the Flames’ squad regularly from the “golden squad”. Precious Sambani returns to the National Team after battling with persistent injuries and he hopes to battle for a place in the starting Xi with Silver Strikers’ Tatenda M’balaka.

Mabedi gives reasons for dropping experienced players

Richard Mbulu, Yamikani Chester, Gerald Phiri, Gabadinho Mhango, Khuda Muyaba, Robbin Ngalande all will not be available for World Cup Qualifiers games against Sao Tome and Equatorial Guinea as Mabedi opts for talented players other than experience.

Gabadinho Mhango’s dropping from Flames squad ahead of World Cup Qualifiers has stirred debate on social with fans arguing that he deserves a place in the National team.

The South Africa based Moroka Swallows striker was not included in Mabedi’s squad for the second time despite helping Maroka Swallows to survive relegation after scoring five goals in the team’s last 9 games.

Mabedi justified his reasons for dropping the industrious goal machine being “he’s getting old”

The remarks have irked fans weighing his age with captain John CJ Banda who is the oldest player in the current National team squad. Player profiles for Friday shows that CJ Banda is 35 years old while Gaba is 31 years old which has raised eye brows of football commentators, analysts and fans arguing that “if Gaba is getting old then what is CJ doing in Flames squad?”

But are Mabedi’s remarks valid on his omission of Gabadinho Mhango? Football coaches select players who are in top form for their clubs to represent the national team

Coaches in European countries with good facilities and successful history in football usually select the same players for the national team regardless of their form at the club.

When Mabedi was hired as Flames coach after a successful interim term he dared to select players based on merit “I won’t go for names,” he said.

In his maiden selection as Flames boss he dropped Mhango on disciplinary grounds in November last year.

After finding form at his club Moroka Swallows he was included in Flames squad during the Four Nations tournament hosted Malawi in March. However he went straight to the dressing room after being substituted in third-place play off match against Zambia which Flames lost 2-1

While the majority of fans thought he would have been included in the Flames squad for World Cup Qualifiers due to his experience and expertise.

On Wednesday, during the press briefing in Lilongwe, Mabedi gave another reason on why he omitted some of the seniors players with Gabadinho Mhango not excluded.

“This is Malawi National Team, there are many players who are playing here [in Malawi] and outside the country. Football has seasons, some of our players are going towards the end of their careers.

“We need to be ready to replace the players who are not with us either due to injury or age. We need to have two players on each position. We need to have team continuity.

“We have mixed players, seniors ones and the young players. When picking up players, we also look at the behavior of the player, what impact will he bring in the team, will young players learn anything from him?

“For example, CJ, is a player who has been playing and has been showing good behavior, and everyone knows this, with his image. Stanley Sanudi is playing well, and he is also showing a good behavior, that’s why he is still playing for the Club and National Team,” he said.

Heading into these fixtures, Malawiook for maximum points to increase their chances of qualifying for the World Cup as they sit 4th with 3 points from two games as Tunisia are leading the group with 9 points while Namibia have 7 points.

Gabadinho Mhango reacted to his omission from the Squad saying he wishes the Flames all the best and he is not bitter with his exclusion from the squad.

“For me, I am OK with it, I am good. At the end of the day, it is the coach’s decision and there is nothing I can do. As much as I would love to represent my country, I have to respect his decision. I love representing my country, but maybe I don’t suit the coach’s plans.

“I have no doubts that my time will come and I will be back in the national team.I just want to urge the guys to go there and give their all for the nation and we will be behind them all the way,” he said in an interview with Nation Sport.