Flames wasted a number of good goal scoring opportunities as they were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe Warriors in an international friendly match played at the Mpira Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Meck Mwase side were hoping to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Zambia on Wednesday but they could not find the magic key to unlock Zimbabwe’s defence. Mwase made five changes to the side that lost to Zambia bringing on board Ernest Kakhobwe for Brighton Munthali in goals, Peter Cholopi for Dennis Chembezi, Schumaker Kuwali for Richard Mbulu, Chikoti Chirwa for Chimango Kayira and Chimwemwe Idana for Gerald Phiri Jnr. Flames started brightly and were unlucky not to grab an early goal as a combination of Idana and John Banda released Kuwali to the left but the latter did little to test goalkeeper Talbert Shumba as his drive went wide. In the 39th minute Yamikani Chester made a good run on the right before setting Idana who blasted his effort over the crossbar with an empty net infront of him. Moments later Flames created yet another clear goal scoring opportunity through Gabadinho Mhango as the Orlando Pirates striker made his way into the penalty box but shot over the cross bar with only Shumba to beat. Substitute Richard Mbulu, who came in for Idana, was unlucky not to find the back of net in the 73rd minute as his solo effort was saved by Shumba. Just a few minutes after coming in for Kuwali, Micium Mhone almost gave the hosts the lead when he was found unmarked in the six-yard box only to be denied by Shumba, who produced a top reflex save. Mwase bought in Kenyan based Andrew Malisero, giving him his Flames debut, as he replaced Mhango in added time but it was too late to make an impact.
Category: Sports
Why Referees used to wear only Black
By Michael Kachitsa The idea, chiefly, is to ensure the referee on the field is as distinguishable as possible from the rest of the players, to avoid confusion. Wearing either solid black or bright colours ensures that players of both teams are easily able to distinguish the referee from the other players on the pitch. Since an all black strip has usually been reserved for the officiating team, not many football teams use black jerseys. Of course, the trends are changing in recent years with more weight being given to marketing considerations, but no team in Europe’s top 5 leagues uses an all black home kit as of yet. However, few teams use it as an away or third kit. Of course, it’s not a rule set in stone that all referees wear black or yellow. For instance, in 2015-16, long term Serie A shirt supplier Diadora introduced a blue referee shirt for the season. It was a striking design, with the main colour blue complemented by fluorescent yellow applications on the sleeves and the shoulder area. (Diadora also released a yellow/black as well as a black/yellow Serie A 2015-16 referee kit to complete the collection). Nowadays, most referees wear yellow or black, yet there is a variation among the colours and styles opted by different football associations. FIFA regulations stipulate that referees wear black shorts, black socks and black shoes; while the jersey can be black, red, yellow, green or blue (on paper). Traditionally, football referees have always worn black uniforms, unless one of the teams involved don a very dark kit. In fact, in the early days, it was more common for a referee to wear a blazer than a jersey. These stipulations in outfit ensured the referee was clearly visible and distinguishable across the length of the pitch. In the 1990s, with the ever increasing viewership of football, referees started wearing colours like yellow and green, mainly motivated by television considerations. Source – SportsKeeda
Zambia Beat Malawi As International Football Finally Returns to Africa
LUSAKA, Oct 7 (Reuters) – Zambia secured a narrow 1-0 win over neighbours Malawi in Lusaka on Wednesday in the first international involving African countries since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down world sport in March. Collins Sikombe netted after 13 minutes for a Zambia team deprived of their overseas-based players by quarantine restrictions and facing a tough programme with another friendly on Friday in Nairobi against Kenya and then away in South Africa on Sunday. South Sudan also used the return of international football on the African continent to travel to Cameroon where they lost 2-0 to club champions PWD Bamenda on Wednesday in an encounter designed to provide match practice ahead of the resumption of African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The qualifiers resume in November after a year’s hiatus with the finals in Cameroon already put back a year to January 2021 because of the COVID-19 crisis. There has been virtually no football across African borders since the pandemic was declared with travel restrictions curtailing plans to resume international football in September, when European countries’ national teams were able to play again. The Confederation of African Football decided to delay the resumption of Nations Cup qualification because of the difficulties of travel, which has allowed many teams instead to use this month’s window to rid themselves of rustiness with friendlies. Many African sides have headed to Europe for matches and training camps over the next week.
History of Be Forward F.C (Malawi)
By Michael Kachitsa Be Forward Wanderers Football Club is a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Blantyre. They currently play in Malawi’s TNM super league. The BE FORWARD Wanderers F.C is one of the more successful teams in the Malawi Premier Division, based in Blantyre. They have won 6 titles in the league, and they are the current defending Champions as of January, 2018. In 2005 and 2006 their leading striker, Aggrey Kanyenda was the top goal scorer in the 2005–06 season. They boast to have the second largest support base after their arch rivals and sworn enemies on the field Big Bullets. Even though there are no real stats on the number of fans the two teams have, it is estimated that Big Bullets have a slightly bigger fan base than Wanderers. The most popular striker to have played in this club is Yasin Osman the current head coach. The most serving player is Joseph Kamwendo who has played for the team from early 2000s up today. The rivalry between Big Bullets and BE FORWARD wanderers starts to kick off every time both clubs meet in 2006–07 both clubs met wanderers went ahead in the first half. Deep second half Bullets scored a goal but it was offside. The Bullets fans went angry started throwing things on to the pitch and the ref in charge abandoned the game, Wanderers had won that match 3–0 because of disqualification. The two teams have met domestic in cup finals few times since the early 1990s, most notably the 1999 Malawi Carlsberg Cup final. The match ended 1–1 after 90 minutes and went to extra time, Wanderers scored a dramatic golden goal to lift the cup. Few years later Bullets got their revenge when they beat Wanderers 1–0 in 2001 final of the same cup, to make matters worse it was Wanderers’ old boy Mc Donald Yobe who scored the only goal against his former employers. The infamous 2003 final, probably the most anticipated, the two teams clashed in final of the same competition, Wanderers took an early lead in the first half when their wonderkid Joseph Kamwendo scored, he was only 17 at the time. Bullets equalized through their veteran striker Ganizani M’bobo Malunga. Wanderers scored two more goals but were disallowed for offside. This caused the fans to clash in the terraces, the match was abandoned and has never been replayed. Due to crowd troubles Carlsberg ended their sponsorship and other companies have also terminated contracts most notably Bp Top 8, Malawis biggest football competition in terms of prize money to date. The pair clashed again in the semi final of this trophy, wanderers won 3–1 to reach the finals. This time it was Bullets fans against the riot police in the stands and went on to the streets of Blantyre. Wanderers went on to win the trophy after beating northern regions biggest club Moyale Barracks FC 1–0 in Lilongwe. In 2014, the club won a sponsorship of about 70 million Malawi Kwacha from BE FORWARD, a Japanese Car Exporter. Due to sponsorship reasons, the team was previously known as Limbe Leaf Wanderers, Telecom Wanderers, MTL Wanderers and currently BE FORWARD Wanderers
Merriam Simengwa Ndlovu – From Netball Player to Finance Manager
By Charles Leyman Kachitsa She now wherever she goes exhibit an aura of authority and of one being in the corporate world class. Could be all those years of success playing for the Malawi national team. Some may say she has always been a star even for her local team, in fact since her teen years. It is not always that people relate sportsmen or women with subjects such as mathematics, yet any game you can mention is a game of numbers and in most cases it involves such things as geometric angles. A game like netball involves constantly remembering elevation and angles if you are to achieve success. It is no wonder therefore, as one of the wonderful stories in sports to have one netball player Merriam Simengwa Ndlovu progress from being a netball player to be a Finance specialist in one of South Africa’s biggest banks. This should be an inspirational story to upcoming netball players and sportsmen in general that after their playing career they can be successful in other fields as well. I caught up with with Merriam Simengwa Ndlovu to ask what her journey has been like from a successful international netball player to the corporate world as financial specialist. Here below in full is what we discussed in form of questions and answers: What is your position now and qualifications career wise? I am currently working as Conformance and risk Specialist in Procurement Department at ABSA Bank (RSA). I have BCOM in Supply Chain Management and PGD in Risk Management, which I obtained at Management College of South Africa. Some may want to know your Full name, family brief story, where did you grow up? I am Merriam Simengwa Ndlovu aka Midu during my playing days and nick named Shamwari after my maiden international game in Zimbabwe. I am the fifth born in a family of eight. There were five girls and three boys in my family. My early childhood was in Chitawira before we moved to Kanjedza. The Simengwas are originally from Chitipa. Which schools did you attend in Malawi? I started my school at Chitawira Primary school where the famous Mr Chidengu Gama was the headmaster. When the family moved to Kanjedza, I got transferred to Limbe Primary school and I thought that I had escaped from Chidengu but he soon followed me to the same school. I later joined Limbe girls from where I was selected to pursue my Secondary School at Chichiri. How did you start netball? Which teams did you play for in Malawi? I used to play street netball just mucking around with my sisters and friends. At Limbe Primary, I played a little bit. My late sister Josephine is the one who took me out of my comfort zone and went with me to try out with ADMARC Tigress. I recall how intimidated I felt on the first day as I saw how the rest of the players looked physically. I was skinny and I thought that I stood no chance. My height was a great advantage as a defender. I am grateful to Ms Maggie Kadangwe who encouraged and supported me and my very first coach Ms Grace Sithole. After a few training sessions, I made it into the team and played along my sister. My little sister Andrina soon joined the team as well and we were known as the Simengwa sisters. ADMARC Tigress nicknamed Kau-Kau is the only team I played for. Anyone who inspired you as a young girl? My late sister Josephine embraced and encouraged me to play netball and it always felt special to play together as defenders. My other inspiration was my late father who worked for Daily Times as a photographer and our game pictures made it to the newspapers. That was a very big boost on my part. Your National team duties, do you remember when? Your memorable trip/ game? We were put through the selection process and I was happy to have impressed so much that I was selected to represent my country in 1987. Our coach was Mr Sayenda. I believe Mr Sayenda deserves a special recognition in Malawi for his passion, insights and techniques in the development of the game in Malawi. He revolutionised the sport, which helped put Malawi on the map. I recall my first national duty in Zimbabwe and we all had been told about how good Zambia was. Our coach Sayenda set down with us and drilled us through some paces and approach to the game. By the time we played Zambia, we were too good for them. It was the defining moment for us as we also won the trophy. Any memorable moments in your career, both as player and now? Winning the tournament in Botswana was one of the great memorable moments in my career. The other one the time we were landing in Maseru, Lesotho. In the flight, we had three families. The three Simengwa sister, The Mpoola twins Grace and Gertrude and the Waya sisters Emmie and Mary. It was one the scariest landing that I ever experienced and we finally touched down it was a great relief. We also had the Tsonga sisters Felia and Grace but they were not on the flight. Any low moments? My low moment was losing my father who passed away suddenly in May 1987. We had played a game on Saturday and he was there and took pictures that appeared on the Newspaper on Monday. I was still happy to have once again appeared in the newspaper when the news came that on the very Monday my father had passed away. I was devastated with the loss and worried about my future. I remain thankful to ADMARC as they extended paying fees to their netball players as well, because previously only football players had the privilege. How do you see Malawi netball now? I am happy with the direction that netball has taken and thrilled that I was part
Flames Secure Zambia, Zimbabwe Friendly Matches
The Malawi Men’s Senior National Football Team, The Flames will play two friendly matches against Zambia and Zimbabwe during the FIFA International Window next month. The Flames will travel to Lusaka for the first match against Zambia’s Chipolopolo on October 7, 2020 before hosting Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday October 11, 2020. The Meke Mwase side will use the two matches to prepare for crucial back to back 2020 AFCON Qualifying matches against Burkina Faso in November. FAM General Secretary Alfred Gunda said the two matches have been confirmed and more details on the Flames travel to Zambia and the arrangements for the home match will be announced later. “We have finalised all arrangements with the two countries’ Football Associations on the two matches. “We are now working on the Flames travel arrangement into and out of Lusaka as well as putting in place protocols for hosting Zimbabwe in Blantyre in awake of the COVID-19 match organisation measurers as guided by the Malawi government,” said Gunda. Last week Mwase named a 32-member squad comprising of 21 local based players and 11 foreign based players who will feature in the two matches. The locals started camp at the Mpira Village in Blantyre on Monday September 21, 2020 while the foreign based will join the team on October 5, 2020.
Malawi Sports Minister Msungama Impressed With FA Covid-19 Measures
Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama says he is impressed with the Covid-19 protocols that are being followed at the Mpira Village where the Malawi Men’s senior team are camping. Msungama said this on Thursday afternoon when he made a surprise visit to the national team Camping Area. He expressed his contentment saying FAM has risen above the compliance of strict Covid-19 measures in sports. “I am so impressed with what is happening here at the Mpira Village. We have seen that all the protocols in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, as presented in the FAM Flames Camping Guidlines document are being strictly followed and this is what we want. “If all the sporting disciplines adopt what I have witnessed here when sports resume, we would be assured that we will not have problems in as far as Covid-19 is concerned,” he said. The minister has since urged the players to work hard and be disciplined if they are to excel in their career. The Flames started their camp training on Monday in preparation for friendly matches in October and back to back 2022 AFCON qualifying matches against Burkina Faso in November.
The History of Arsenal Football Club
By Michael Kachitsa As one of the most successful and beloved clubs in England, Arsenal Football Club was always a magnet for the public. Tradition-wise, their results speak for themselves; in addition to winning 28 major domestic trophies, Arsenal hold the records for longest unbeaten streak and longest run in top flight of English football. Arsenal FC started life as a works team named Dial Square in 1886 – the workers were blacksmith’s that built cannons, which is the reason for the club being known as the Gunners. Shortly thereafter, the club turned professional and changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal, becoming a full-fledged member of the Football League in 1893 (the first club from the south parts of the country). The following period was fraught with difficulties for the club; besides not being able to form a team that could challenge for the title, Jim was geographically isolated from the rest of the league, which resulted in low attendances. After teetering dangerously close to bankruptcy, the club was bought out by businessman Henry Norris in 1910 and moved to North London in 1913 (Highbury became the new home ground). The following year, the club was renamed as Arsenal. The club’s first rise to prominence came with the hiring of Herbert Chapman as manager in 1925. In the process of modernizing many aspects of the club, Chapman improved the training regimen and made efficient changes to the club’s traditional 2-3-5 formation. After following this up by signing a couple of star players, Arsenal won their first major trophy in 1930, defeating Huddersfield Town 2-0 in the FA Cup final. This proved to be the beginning of a fruitful period for the club; during the 30s, they claimed five league titles and another FA Cup trophy. The post-WWII period saw the club continue on their path of prosperity with another two League titles (1948, 1953) and an FA Cup (1950). Those were the last trophies the club would see for the next seventeen years, however; with their best players retiring or leaving for more successful clubs, Arsenal fell into a slump of mediocrity. After winning their first Double in 1971, it seemed like the club’s fortunes had finally turned. Yet, this was followed up by a long string of second-place league finishes and losses in Cup finals, with the 1979 FA Cup victory being the only bright spot on their record during this time. They were a little more successful under George Graham, whose defense-oriented mindset proved a good fit with the club’s players. During Graham’s nine years in charge (1986–1995), Arsenal won two League titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup, as well as their first and only Cup Winners’ Cup by defeating Parma 1-0 in the final (they had been very close to win the 1980 Cup Winners’ Cup Final, losing against Valenca in the final after a penalty shootout). Arsenal would become far more watchable with the appointment of Arsène Wenger. The then-unknown French manager immediately transformed the club into a goal-scoring behemoth, partly by successful import of French players such as Robert Pirés, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Henry was incredibly effective as the lace of the team’s attack. Between 1996 and 2004, Arsenal claimed three League titles and three FA Cups, with the 2003–2004 season being particularly noteworthy due to the club not losing a single game in the Premier League. That squad, powered by Henry’s 30 goals in 37 matches, was later dubbed “The Invincibles”. Under Arsène Wenger’s management, Arsenal has been known as a club that doesn’t buy big names, but instead finds talents through excellent scouting. An exception, however, was the transfer of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013. He did cost £42.5 million, a transfer record for the club. Being one of the top clubs in England, the 38,419 seats at Highbury was not sufficient (the rule from 1994 dictating all-seater stadiums in the league had considerably reduced the capacity). Arsenal wanted to expand the stadium, but wasn’t given permission since the stands were historically listed buildings. They had to build a new stadium and in 2006 Emirates Stadium was ready for first kick-off with potentially over 60,000 in the crowd.
Football Fraternity Mourns Kamuzu Barracks Coach Billy Phambala
A dark cloud has engulfed the football fraternity following the death of super league side Kamuzu Barracks Head Coach Billy Phambala who died on Thursday morning. According to Kamuzu Barracks General Secretary Prince Majiga, the late Phambala died on at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President, Walter Nyamilandu-Manda described Phambala’s death as a big blow to Malawi Football as he was one of the top coaches with excellent track record. “Phambala will be remembered as as a great leader who possessed excellent tactical and player management skills “He was an accomplished Coach and at his peak led Kamuzu Barracks to their only Super League Championship in the 2016 and the FISD Cup in 2017. ‘We extend our deepest sympathies to the Phambala family and Kamuzu Barracks FC as they mourn his loss. May His Soul Rest in Peace,” said Nyamilandu. According to a statement from the Super League outfit, details about the funeral programme will be announced later.
Flames Players, Officials Test Positive For Covid-19
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says two Flames players and two officials have tested positive for Covid-19. FAM’s Competitions and Media Director, Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed the development on Monday. He said all the confirmed cases were asymptomatic. “We wish to report that the outcome of the tests were negative except for two players and two officials whose names will not be disclosed to maintain their privacy,” said Zakazaka He added: “They are currently in isolation being monitored by our medical team and it is expected that they will be able to report for national duty once they test negative 10 days from the day when they tested positive in line with the National MoH guidelines on COVID 19,” The football governing body undertook a precautionary measure of testing all the selected local players, officials and secretariat members of staff that are directly involved in providing support service to the national team when it’s in Camp. The National team has started camping on Monday 21st September 2020 at the Mpira Village in Blantyre ahead of African Cup of Nations Qualifiers fixture.