By MK – WA GANYU
The Malawi Beach Soccer team has stumbled. Without shame, the Flames have been embarrassed. Talk of the U20 team? They returned from Mozambique covering their faces.
Who will then take away the shame? The answer is simple, the Scorchers of Malawi, a women’s national team.
When they drew 1-all with Botswana in their opening match, the dream of defending the COSAFA Women’s Championship title was fading since Botswana proceeded to punish Mauritius 5-0 in their next game to top Group B on goal difference.
Malawi were caught between the rock and the hard surface. They prayed to win their last match by a bigger goal margin and at the same time praying that Botswana should drop points against Madagascar.
Their prayers were considered just like Esther in the bible.
Going into the dressing room at Madibaz Stadium in South Africa, the Scorchers sang a song from the book of Esther 4:16.
The story from that chapter talks of Esther’s fasting. She could not take food or drink for three days, night or day.
The song goes: “Ndi mawu anu Mbuyeee! Nyengo zanga zisintha, ndaonera Esitele atasala nyengo zake zidasintha.”
True to that song, the Scorchers story had changed within an hour and 40 minutes. From second position in group B to finish top and qualify for the semifinals.
Malawi plundered Mauritius 9-0 and on another hand, Botswana, despite dominating play, dropped points against Madagascar in a 0-0 draw.
Malawi will be waiting for the winner between Zambia and Comoros in group C, but coach Lovemore Fazili thinks Zambia will come on their way.
How the game progressed:
Leticia Chinyamula opened the scoring in the 8th minute from a rebound after Faith Chinzimu shot was saved.
Sabina Thom doubled the lead 9 minutes later from the spot after Chinzimu was fouled in the box, and then Asimenye Simwaka extended the lead to end the first half at 3-0.
In the second half, Fazili made two quick changes by resting Mary Chavinda and Carolyne Mathyola for Catherine Kachala and Sarah Mulimbika.
The defending Champions were not taking any chances as they pushed for more goals, and it all paid dividends when Chinyamula completed a brace on 50 minutes.
Thereafter, it was a massacre with Thom securing a hat trick same as Chinyamula, and there was a goal each for Simwaka, Kachala, and Maureen Kenneth.
Speaking after the match Fazili thanked his girls: “We were so clinical in our finishing today and it’s really encouraging to see the girls putting into use all what we are telling them, but the job isn’t done.”
From three matches played, the Scorchers have scored 11 goals, conceding 1 beating their 2023 record, where they conceded 4 goals in the group stages and scored 15 goals.
Their next game is on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
