Thandizani Newspaper Yanu
Maravi Post - Sports
Kinnah upbeat about 2012 ANC qualification
MZUZU--He is dreaming in colour and has no doubt the dream will come true come 2012. That’s Kinnah Phiri, the Flames no-nonsense coach who last year broke the jinx and took Malawi to the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in 25 years.
Now Kinnah sees no reason why the Flames can't repeat the feat in 2012 when the team is strong enough to come from 2 goals down and force an away draw with teams like Tunisia hitherto considered as one of Africa’ s powerhouses.
“I can confidently give my word to the nation that we will make it in this campaign and my belief surges from the confidence I have in my team.
“I have absolutely no reasons to doubt the capabilities of this team. On Saturday they showed that they have developed mental strength to compete with the best in the rough terrain of the continent,” Kinnah told a local daily in an interview published Tuesday.
Kinnah doesn't need any telling that Botswana are runaway leaders in their group with 10 points—7 points clear of the Flames—from four games, followed by Tunisia who have so far bagged 4 points from three games. The Flames are on third with three points from three games.
The other teams in this group are Togo and Chad anchoring the table.
But the ever upbeat coach says he is not daunted by the present statistics and that he has set his sights high and will be gunning for the top position in the group.
“We want the top slot and it is not beyond the realms of possibility. If we win the next two games [against Chad and Botswana] then we will be [there] and I am absolutely certain that we will do it,” he told The Nation from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kinnah seems to be drawing the inspiration from the fact that the Flames have played two difficult away games against Togo and Tunisia and managed to salvage a point from the two encounters and hopes to do better at home.
He says it’s just that the gods didn't smile on the Malawi when they played Botswana at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, promising that with the necessary support the Flames will go all the way to the 2012 ANC finals to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The coach had predicted a win, saying if the worst comes to the worst, he expected the Flames to come back with at least a point. He got just that!
But what Kinnah should be pushing for—and not hoping for—should be the support from the government, the National Sports Council and the Football Association of Malawi if his and, indeed, the nation’s colourful dream, is to come true.
In the past preparations for such tournaments have been haunted by stories of lack of funds for camping or playing international friendlies. Each time the coach suggested early camping or playing reputed European teams in strength-testing matches before competitive matches, the answer more often than not was: “There are no funds!”
For once, let everyone put the weight behind the coach and our Flames by proving the necessary financial, material and moral support they need to achieve the goals. Yes, we can!--maravipost
MZUZU--Malawi’s top athletes’ resilience will this Sunday be put to great test as they line up to compete against some of Africa’s finest and world-class runners in the Southern African International Half Marathon the country is hosting for the first time.
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BLANTYRE--Malawi's Flames have a fighting chance to put its qualification campaign for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations on track after securing a vital point in Tunisia.
BLANTYRE—Malawi came from behind to draw 2-2 with Tunisia or if you like it Malawi held by Tunisia 2-2 or indeed 10-man Malawi drew with Tunisia 2-2. All goals for Malawi were scored after Hellings Mwasungula was given matching orders. The African Cup of Nations qualifier match was played in Tunisia and for what all this means for the Flame see our More Articles...
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