By Mphatso Malidadi:
Malawi women’s national football team Coach, Abel Mkandawire, has opted to play test matches against developmental male opposition in the absence of international test matches.
“As a coach, I have to use available resources. In the meantime, we don’t have the resources to play international test matches. I would have preferred games against Zambia and East African teams but we don’t have the resources. This is the reason that we have opted to play against under-17 and 20 boys’ teams,” Mkandawire said.
The team is in camp in readiness for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games’ qualifier against Mozambique set for April 4 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Mkandawire said he was encouraged by the players’ attitude in training despite losing 4-1 to First Capital Bank Under-20 National Youth Football League side Namiwawa on Tuesday.
“The players are grasping what I am telling them. For instance, during the game against Namiwawa, we conceded some silly goals in the first half and we were trailing 4-0. In the second half, we changed approach and frustrated their plans of hitting us a dozen [of goals]. We scored after changing our formation,” he said.
Mkandawire said he was emphasising on attack and defence ahead of the match against Mozambique.
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