The Flames of Malawi dictated by the design of the CHAN competition, will parade and reload yet again the finest of the locally based players in their blast furnace on a mission to detonate next opponent in their long-sought quest to qualify for CHAN 2025 edition finals, jointly to be hosted in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August.
Standing in their desire is a colossal figure that requires very little introductory notes, South Africa’s Bafanabafana.
In inviting men from the rainbow nation to the abattoir of hope at Bingu National Stadium, the Flames clobbered Comoros, without an ounce of mercy 4-0 on aggregate, having won both encounters, home and away, decisively by 2 goals apiece, as if rehearsed, on all sacred slaughterings.
South Africa on the other hand, administered a medical operation without anesthesia to tournament favourites Egypt.
On aggregate, with an emphatic beating of 4-2, having drawn the first leg, 1 all, they were ruthless in the return leg in Cairo with a dominant display that outclassed the Pharaohs in front of their soccer gods, 3-1.
South Africa Coach Molefi Ntseki, has at his disposal an array of talent, drawn from a hugely competitive league within the COSAFA region and beyond, capable of injecting misery to any team.
The game of football is undeniably measured by results, weighed upon by statistics and conjured by positive outcomes.
Flames Coach, Kalisto Pasuwa has reassembled his local contingent and drawn them in camp to master his technical tactics in response. He must make sure his charges memorise and recite his technical guides by heart. The task ahead demands nothing, but sweat.
Albeit, the fashion in which the Flames will approach the game must correspond to their neatly researched knowledge of the opponent. South Africa plays fast football, they run across field like possessed mad men escaping danger, they keep possession.
Having superior ball possession in a game of football is necessary, but it isn’t all that what matters the most. In Europe and beyond, we have seen how teams have defied possession and dominance to win games.
Leicester City for example became poster boys in the 2015/16 EPL season, yet were one of 11 Premier League teams who picked up more points per game at home when they did not dominate possession than when they did. Tactical approach to games, matters the most.
The discipline to close down gaps when under intense attack, quick transitions and sheer tactical superiority to press without possession, will prove a difference in salvaging a positive result in a game of such magnitude. There will always be a gap in quality, but tactical discipline lies ahead than the rest in football.
If it is in football philosophical schools of thought, Flames need to win the match the ugly way than lose the smarter way. Let’s churn them!
