Date Of Article: 3/27/2003
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Kanyenda, Mwafulirwa on target
By: Leonard Sharra
Flames 4- Eagles 2 Flames strikers Essau Kanyenda and Russell Mwafulirwa were both on target as the Malawi national football side struggled to beat stubborn Blue Eagles 4-2 in an exciting friendly match played Wednesday at the Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu. Kanyenda arrived at the Academy just two hours before the game after being flown from Blantyre to Lilongwe and the Flames English mentor coach Allan Gillett kept him on the bench for the first 45 minutes. The Flames were two nil up when the Russian based striker was introduced to team up with his former striking partner at South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos. Victor Phiri shot the hosts ahead 10 minutes into the game, when he took home a rebound from a Fischer Kondowe effort, which crashed against the post. Defender Joseph Gatros followed up with the second, heading home a corner kick taken by McDonald Yobe. At half time, the Flames made four changes, bringing in Kanyenda, Ganizani Malunga, Mapopa Musukwa and Sherry Msuku for Phiri, Ernest Mtawali, Kondowe and Yobe. While the coming in of Kanyenda added punch to the striking force, the substitution of Mtawali appeared to have paralysed the midfield. The Eagles, who had been completely outplayed in the first half, started breathing fire in the last half, in which they scored their two goals and had a third disallowed in bizarre circumstances. Eagles’ marksman Dick Malidadi, who had come from the bench, reduced the arrears in the 63rd minute after beating goalkeeper Phillip Nyasulu with a clean drive from the 18-yard box, where he was set by Elvis Kafoteka. But the Flames quickly scored the third through Kanyenda, who had the simplest job of squeezing home a Malunga drive, which deflected against the legs of an Eagles defender. The Eagles nearly hit the second goal on the half hour but Malunga cleared a Newton Gondwe header from the line. Showing clear signs of stubbornness, the Eagles made it 2-3 through Newton Gondwe, who connected in a set-piece from Kafoteka. The Flames rested Nyasulu for Mangani, who also struggled to withstand the Eagles’ onslaught. A blunder by Eagles defender Rodrick Kamanga resulted into the fourth goal by Mwafulirwa. Looking more dangerous than before, the Cosmos striker capitalised on the blunder before rounding off goalkeeper Wisdom Munthali for the fourth. Eagles were denied a clear goal, when referee Gilbert Mhone awarded them a penalty instead of playing advantage after Malidadi had scored a goal. In a dramatic fashion, Mangani held Malidadi with his hands to prevent the striker from pushing home a loose ball, but the striker slipped off the goalkeeper’s hands and scored what could have been the third goal for the Eagles. The referee ignored the advantage rule and awarded a penalty but Malidadi’s poorly taken kick was saved by Mangani, who could have been red carded for his action had the game been handled by a competent referee. “This game was just for Kanyenda, Russell Mwafulirwa and Joseph Gatros. The two had just arrived in camp while Gatros missed the friendly game against the All Stars Select,” said Gillett after the game. Peter Mponda, Itaye Nundwe, Lackson Mtambo and Peter Mgangira did not feature in the game but Gillett hinted the four would be on the starting line up against Nigeria on Saturday.
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