Africa-Press – Malawi. The Malawi National Beach Soccer team has failed to suit the Vilankhulo Mozambique hot weather as they have suffered a 4-2 defeat in Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations opener in Mozambique.
Willy Kumilambe’s boys started on a high note in the first period as they fast took a shot which went off target. They kept playing well until they got match needed goal at 9th minute through Dala Simba.
The goal which they failed to defend as the host playing in the presence of their state President Filipe,reorganized too fast and scored through Nelson Manuel who was outstanding on the day. The first period ended with the two sides equaling power though Malawi missed a lot of chances as they look shaken in their defence.
In the second period, the visitors started just as they did in the first period no wonder they extended the lead in the 15th minute through captain of the side Sandarm Saddie who was left unmarked.
But as Malawi was still celebrating for the goal Mozambique equalised again through Julio Manjate at 23rd minute who capitalized on a back pass by Malawi’s defender leading to miscommunication at the visitors back,and that was an easy goal for Mozambique.
In the last period Malawi kept pressuring the host but their efforts ended off target hence the host capitalized on this as Gerson Chivale netted the third goal at 26th minute before Nelson Manuel completed his brace at 33rd minute.
Next match for Malawi will be on Monday against Morocco which will play their first game at the tournament on Sunday against the host Mozambique who now top group A. Bobby Kabango and Kimu Kamau, the country’s well known Sports journalist and analyst said the result was obvious as the sport is new in Malawi.
“We are not ready to compete in such tournaments as the team has no foundation, no under 17,20,23 teams where we can groom and nurture players for the national team hence we have started it with already old aged players. We don’t have good standards in the country, no infrastructures while our friends Mozambique, Morocco have adequate resources such as grounds.
“Our counterparts started long way back than us. There is no short cut in any sport success. You can’t just wake up today and say we win AFCON, COSAFA. We are in primary stage. The defeat isn’t a strange thing to me. We are still learning, we missed a lot of chances while our friends created few and scored”, Kabango said.
He added that,the players and technical panel led by Willy Kumilambe should not be blamed but rather blame it on FAM and Malawi as a country for failing to put strategies for the development of the sport.
“We should expect miracles from Morocco game not that we are tactically good,our system is poor,we tried by scoring two goals.The boys are delaying to reach the final third”, Kabango added. Kimu Kamau said Mozambique used experience to punish Malawi.
“Our defending was not good enough, may be we may have advantage playing Morocco on Monday as they will be coming from another game against the host. As a country we should learn something from Mozambique who are the defending champions of COSAFA Beach Soccer which Malawi didn’t participate due to financial issues”,
“They are at the AFCON without an international friendly which makes them inferior over other nations hence we should not expect much from them “, Kamau concurred with Kabango. Group B consists of defending champions Senegal, Madagascar, Uganda and Egypt.
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