Kalisto addresses Vunga, Joseph’s absence against Lesotho

Malawi Flames head coach Kalisto Pasuwa has opened up about the tactical decisions that saw two of the country’s most in-form players excluded from the recent international friendly matches against Lesotho in South Africa.

The absence of Silver Strikers duo Uchizi Vunga and Andrew Joseph raised eyebrows among supporters, particularly given their impressive performances in continental competition.

Both Vunga and Joseph had been instrumental in Silver Strikers’ CAF Champions League campaign, with the latter finding the net against both Elgeco Plus and Young Africa Sports Club. Their scoring form and match fitness appeared to make them prime candidates for national team selection during the November international window.

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However, when the Flames took to the field for their back-to-back encounters with Lesotho, neither player featured in Pasuwa’s plans, prompting questions about the coach’s selection criteria and squad rotation policy.

In a candid post-match interview following Malawi’s 1-0 victory over Lesotho in the second friendly, Pasuwa addressed the elephant in the room. The experienced coach emphasized the delicate balance between giving opportunities to fringe players and maintaining the team’s competitive edge.

“You see, the problem that we are having at times, us coaches, when trying players, we can’t try all of them, only to change the whole team,” Pasuwa explained, highlighting the constraints he faces when managing expectations.

The coach went further to illustrate the pressure national team managers operate under, pointing out the often contradictory demands from fans and media. “And you people, at the end of the day, you need results, then you want me to be changing players as if we are playing netball,” he said.

Pasuwa elaborated on his philosophy of team building, stressing the importance of developing a core group of players who understand each other’s movements and can build chemistry on the pitch. “Even in netball, you also need to have regulars, let’s say five. I’m calling off the team, then others will join in,” he explained, suggesting that wholesale changes could disrupt the team’s tactical framework.

The coach revealed that he did make changes to the lineup, but in a measured way. “So, like today, we exchanged five-to-six players. Most of them were injured, but again, people will talk about another player to make 11 players,” Pasuwa added, indicating that injuries also played a role in his selection decisions while acknowledging that criticism is inevitable regardless of his choices.

The Flames’ performances in the two friendlies provided a mixed bag of results. The first encounter ended in a goalless stalemate, with both sides failing to break the deadlock in what was described as a cagey affair. The draw likely intensified scrutiny on Pasuwa’s team selection, with fans wondering if the inclusion of more attack-minded players like Joseph might have made the difference.

However, the second match told a different story. The Flames bounced back with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a first-half strike from Malango Mayele.