Africa-Press – Malawi. Malawi National Football Team Coach Mario Marian Marinica has reiterated his appeal for more time to deliver positive results after disclosing that he needs five years to successfully implement his football “fast and very fast football philosophy”.
The Fifa-Pro Coaching Licence holder said his philosophy will become effective across the board (Under-17, 20 and 23) in five years. “This is a philosophy which needs to be devised across the board from Under-17, 20 and 23 and all Super League teams and, then, at the national team.
“We are far away from countries like Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria, just to mention a few. People need to be patient. We are not bad but what we need is time to be together and practice for a longer time,” he said.
Marinica’s charges are preparing for back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifiers against Egypt slated for later this month. The coach feels that his side has chances to do well.
“We still have a chance to do better in this current campaign as all the teams in the group have five points. We are not an easy team to beat despite the fact that we do not score more goals,” he said.
Marinica singled out Flames forward Frank Gabadinho Mhango, who plays for Amazulu in South Africa, as one of the players who has mastered his philosophy. However, former Flames forward Peterkins Kayira differed with Marinica’ on the five-year duration for his philosophy to work out.
“Firstly, I do not really understand him when he says ‘fast and very fast football’. This is what we have been doing as a country. Malawi’s football is about attacking. We have always played fast and attacking football spiced by passing.
“How different is this type of football pattern from that of Marinica, where, after only two or three touches, the ball finds itself at the feet of a striker. To me, a year is enough for a coach to start reaping fruits of his football style. I find five years too long,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Football Coaches Association Chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni, while agreeing with Kayira on the five-year duration, said the focus should be on the team’s preparations ahead of the Afcon qualifiers instead of debating on Marinica’s football style.
“One year to me is enough for a coach to set his philosophy and start getting results but I am much more concerned with how we can help the coach beat Egypt.
“Do we have a team? Do we need new players who were not at the Afcon finals in Cameroon? What training methods and partnerships are we trying with the boys?” Nankhuni asked. Marinica is in his second year of the three-year contract as Flames head coach.
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