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Malawi’s ramp on the beach of Botswana football continued on Sunday when they beat the 4-1 on post-match penalties in front of a highly intimidating atmosphere at national stadium in Gaborone to wing to the semis of the regional Cosafa Castle Cup.
What a match it was, tagging traumatically the emotions of about 25,000 fans who filled the stadium.
The toast of the afternoon for the Flames was youthful winger Moses Chavula who grabbed an equaliser as defeat looked imminent with four minutes to full time.
The enterprising Chavula jinxed his way through two Zebras on the left and then, in a blur of action, released a fierce drive that flew past on-form Boswana’s goal tender and skipper Modiri Marumo.
Suddenly the midwinter night’s dream the Tswanas yearned for, seemed to be turning into a nightmare.
And when Chavula and excited Flames players rushed to the stand to dance jigs of celebrations, they were showered by missiles, that included beer bottles, from the home fans.
Botswana surged ahead in the 20th minute — it was a goal made abroad. South Africa-based diminutive striker Tshesipo Molwantwa made the clever turn and then a searing run past a clutch of stunned Flames defenders ended with hitman Masego Ntshingane firing past keeper Phillip Nyasulu.
Like wounded buffaloes the Flames stepped on the gas and kept the Zebras on the back foot with captain Peter Mgangira, Rahim ‘Aidul’ Ishmail, Chavula, Fischer ‘Anong’a’ Kondowe turning on the heat, but their numerous attempts were frustrated by keeper Marumo.
However, the Flames were denied what looked like a clear goal in the 38th minute when defender Joseph Gatros swept home a fumbled ball by Marumo but Mozambican ref Mateus Infante disallowed the goal for infringement.
A few minutes later Marumo again fumbled a fine curling short from Maupo Msowoya but Ng’ambi’s weak shot was blocked just in time by Pius Kologano.
In the second half the Flames threw in Allan Kamanga for injured Lackson Mtambo and, later on, South Africa based striker Russell Mwafulirwa and Ganizani ‘Mbobo’ Malunga for Ishmail and Itai Nundwe as desperation took its toll.
The Flames silenced the drumbeating Tswanas with Chavula’s strike. The ref blew the final whistle and suddenly the stadium ablaze with noise at the start, was stilled by tension as both teams prepared for the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Mwafulirwa was the first one to step up and converted his kick. Duncan Kgopolelo replied for Botswana then Malawi went on to score the other two penalty kicks through Kamanga and Kondowe while Zebra’s pros Ntshingane and Molwantwa couldn’t beat Nyasulu.
The final say was left in the hands of Malunga who had the pleasure to decide the game with a fine kick that beat an inside player who had replaced the initial keeper Marumo who was shown the red card after hitting Nyasulu in the face as the latter clapped hands following Kondowe’s kick.
Chavula could not take his penalty as the Flames had already wrapped up the game.
The Flames were detained on the pitch for about 15 minutes as armed police tried to disperse home fans who were throwing missiles.
Coach Allan Gillett said after the match: “It was a hard earned victory but it was not surprising that we got the reward, the boys gave out their best from start to finish. It’s really nice to get a first win, I feel happy for the boys.”
Peter Mgangira was named man-of-the-match and went away with R1,000 (about K11,000).
“As captain I feel great, this was my first competitive game as captain and it was nice to be named man-of-the-match,” he said.
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