Wa Ganyu

Malawi head coach Patrick Mabedi says the boys are ready to take on Sao Tome and Principe today in the World Cup qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Speaking to the media, Mabedi also explained why he dropped other players saying this is not a competition to try but to win points.

Mabedi explains:

“There are a number of players like Mayere Malango and Takondwa Maosa. These players do not have passports for them to play for Malawi. That is out of our control but we are engaging the government,” he said.

“We need to understand. In the national team we have things we look into. During preparation, players need to understand the style that we play, how they are fitting into that. It needs time to prepare. For example, during the Four Nations Tournament, we tried to call a few players. We had Okedina, a very good player but he failed to coordinate with other players. This is not the competition to try players, but to perform and get the points. Players that understand our play are those we are having. For future we will consider them.”

Mabedi also commented on why he dropped Gabadinho Mhango:

“Another example is Gaba. Gaba was here, he is a good player and he struggled with the formation we used, so we need to understand those things. Where are we having time to try those players? We were given seven days to train, and we did not have that time.

“I would love to have players like [Yamikani] Chester and others but do we have time? No. We do not have grudges over anyone,” he added.

Yesterday Mabedi told Soccer Laduma of South Africa that he dropped Mhango because he is getting old, which Mhango has responded to.

Mhango, 31, has said he is respecting Mabedi’s decision but said he has seen older players playing football even at the age of 40.

“There is nothing much I can say, that’s the opinion of the coach, I have seen old people in football playing at the age of 40. That’s fine with me, I am still in my prime, and I can still play football.

“My time will come again, that’s not the end of the day. I have seen players older than me playing for their teams, but that’s what the coach has seen. I will still give the team all support,” he said.

Mhango who plays for Moroka Swallows in South Africa has scored five goals in 8 matches winning two player of the match awards in the Dstv Premiership. He has scored 15 goals for the Flames of Malawi and he is the current top scorer among players of his generation. 

Malawi will be playing its third match in the competition. They won away to Liberia and lost one to Tunisia at home.