Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Patrick Mabedi has described his team’s Cosafa Youth Championship opener against South Africa’s Amajita as a must-win.
Mabedi, who is Malawi’s Under 20 coach, said this before the Junior Flames’ departure for the championship scheduled from October 7 to 16 in Eswatini.
Mabedi said the Junior Flames’ progress at the championship hinges on Saturday’s Group C opener against Amajita.
“Our target is to win the first game, then fight and win the next two games because what happens in the other games, will depend on our performance in the first game,” he told Malawi FA media.
EQUAL FOOTING
The former Flames skipper said he believes all teams in the group, which also comprises Comoros and Namibia, would start the tournament on an equal footing.
He observed that all junior teams in the region have been inactive since last year due to the effects of Covid-19; hence there are no favourites.
“I tried to do my research to see South Africa almost similar as we did; they also played their last game long ago as Covid-19 messed up everything,” he said.
“I believe it is the same DNA. It is in their culture. We are in a similar situation, so it is just a question of who wants it more and who can adapt quickly.”
SELECTION HEADACHE
Mabedi has since travelled to Eswatini with a 20-member squad.
The former Chiefs interim coach said he had a pleasant selection headache due to a dogfight for final selection.
“We have had very good preparations in the last three weeks in camp. We had four test matches which helped us assess our shortfalls and worked on them ahead of the tournament,” Mabedi said.
“As we leave with the final 20 players from the 35 that we had, we admit that it was a challenge to come up with the final squad because everyone worked so hard, but we had to stick to competition rules.”
Malawi’s next game will be against Comoros on October 10, then Namibia two days later.
Malawi has never won the Cosafa under-20 tournament, with reaching the final in the year 2004 being their best showing ever.
The Junior Flames have every reason to work hard at the tournament, as two finalists will qualify for the 2023 Under-20 AFCON in Egypt.
The Cosafa championship is acting as the zonal qualifier for the Under-20 AFCON.
MALAWI FINAL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Wisdom Khuni, Joshua Waka, Austin Chirambo
Defenders: Kondwani Chirwa, Chimwemwe Nkhoma, Chisomo Chawanda, Chrispine Mapemba, Kelvin Banda, Andrew Lameck, Happy Mphepo
Midfielders: Robert Saizi, Chikumbutso Salima, Lloyd Aaron, Frank Mahowa, Wongani Kaponya, Bright Mtondagowa
Strikers: Vincent Mkandawire, Chifundo Mphasi, Masambiro Kalua, Emmanuel Saviel
