Malawi are confident of completing a double over Zimbabwe when they clash in a dead-rubber African Cup of Nations soccer qualifier at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The Flames of Malawi -- now under British coach Steve Constantine - beat the Warriors 1-0 in March last year in their first Group 12 encounter and will bring a strong squad for the return match which they believe is very important to their football.
The first batch of the Flames delegation arrived yesterday morning with four officials and one player -- Moses Chavula -- the man who was responsible for throwing the Warriors campaign off the rails, scoring the priceless goal that sank the Zimbabwean hearts in their first meeting in March last year.
The rest of the Malawian squad is scheduled to touch down at the Harare International Airport this morning and will include former CAPS United star midfielder Joseph Kamwendo, who is now with South African giants Orlando Pirates.
Steven Sambira, the Football Association of Malawi vice-president and head of the Malawian delegation, told The Herald yesterday that they were taking the match against the Warriors seriously and believes the Flames have improved so much that they can complete a double over them.
He said since they crashed out of the African Cup of Nations finals with Morocco winning the three-team group, they have since shifted their focus to building a team for 2010 and with Briton Constantine, the Malawians believe they have the right man to fulfil their dreams.
Constantine was appointed manager of the Flames on February 2 this year.
He has previously managed the national teams of Nepal and India.
In September 2005, Constantine returned to England to become a first-team coach at lower division side Millwall.
He stayed at the club for the remainder of the 2005-2006 season, as Millwall were relegated to League One, before he moved to Malawi.
The Briton has been in charge of the Flames for five games and has lost all of them.
But Sambira said they were not reading much into that record, pointing out that Constantine was just familiarising himself with Malawian football
"We believe we have a very good coach, we have seen what he has been trying to do since he came in back in February.
"He is working very hard to build a foundation for the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup finals in 2010.
"We failed to qualify for next year's Nations Cup finals in Ghana but we are very determined to make it to the 2010 finals and we are working flat out to build a strong team for the World Cup as well.
"We've got so many talented youngsters that he (Constantine) is working with and we believe we can come up with a very strong team. "He has already identified a 19-year-old player, Taonga Chimodzi, the son of former Flames defender Young Chimodzi.
"The youngster is playing for Santos in South Africa and is a very good central midfielder. "He is one of the many players we hope will form the core of the Flames' future squad and we are happy with the direction the coach is taking."
However, Constantine has lost five times in as many matches he has been in charge of the Flames, including the friendly international loss at home to Senegal and the 0-1 Nations Cup defeat to Morocco before succumbing to South Africa, Swaziland and Namibia in this year's Cosafa Castle Cup.
They also lost 2-1 to Namibia on July 6 in their Independence celebrations but Constantine has the backing of his football chiefs, who refuse to read much into the unattractive statistics.
"He is only trying to build a foundation for development, we know the team hasn't won since he took over but we can't assess him on those results. "We can see what he is trying to achieve for the nation but he remains positive that he can win against Zimbabwe."
The Fam official said they came here determined to win Sunday's match at Barbourfields, having already done so on home soil. He reckoned that every game that his country plays is very important and the clash against the Warriors is no exception.
"The coach is very optimistic that we can be able to build a strong team, it's only that he has been getting to know the players. "But he will bring a strong team and this match is very important; that is why we are bringing the same squad that beat Zimbabwe last year.
"Every game that we play is very important to us, whether it's a friendly or not. That is why this match means a lot to us and the coach.
"He has just started out and his main objective is to play for victory while he is building a team.
"When we play football, we play to win and we are very confident of beating Zimbabwe. That is why we came here. "Our main objective is to win, we have got a good team and at the moment we are building our team around experienced players and the youngsters," said Sambira.
Malawi - barring any last-minute injuries - are expected to be without only three players, according to the Fam vice-president, due to injury and suspensions with former Monomotapa utility player Peter Mponda, Denmark-based Clement Kafafwa and James Chilapondwa (suspension) all out.
Thursday, 6 September 2007
Malawi to maintain ties with Taiwan
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika said Thursday that his country will maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Speaking at Lilongwe airport shortly before his departure for the first ever Taiwan-Africa summit beginning Sunday in Tapei, Mutharika said the African nation would not abandon Taiwan for China.
"We have received numerous assistances from Taiwan and we will maintain the diplomatic relations between us and Taiwan," he said.
The African continent is a diplomatic battleground for Taipei and Beijing.
"Malawi has never had relations with China and we cannot start comparing how much aid it gives to other African countries in relation to what we get from Taiwan," said Mutharika.
The summit aims to seek new areas of future cooperation between Africa and Taiwan, Taiwan embassy spokesman Daniel Chang told AFP.
Technological development, health, welfare, economic sustainability and development will all be discussed at the summit, he said.
Taiwan has diplomatic relations with five African countries: Malawi, Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe, Burkina Faso and Gambia.
Taiwan has assisted Malawi in the areas of agriculture, health, education and infrastructure development.
Speaking at Lilongwe airport shortly before his departure for the first ever Taiwan-Africa summit beginning Sunday in Tapei, Mutharika said the African nation would not abandon Taiwan for China.
"We have received numerous assistances from Taiwan and we will maintain the diplomatic relations between us and Taiwan," he said.
The African continent is a diplomatic battleground for Taipei and Beijing.
"Malawi has never had relations with China and we cannot start comparing how much aid it gives to other African countries in relation to what we get from Taiwan," said Mutharika.
The summit aims to seek new areas of future cooperation between Africa and Taiwan, Taiwan embassy spokesman Daniel Chang told AFP.
Technological development, health, welfare, economic sustainability and development will all be discussed at the summit, he said.
Taiwan has diplomatic relations with five African countries: Malawi, Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe, Burkina Faso and Gambia.
Taiwan has assisted Malawi in the areas of agriculture, health, education and infrastructure development.
Mutharika to help repatriate Rwandan refugees in Malawi
Kigali, Rwanda - Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has pledged that his country will facilitate the repatriation of Rwandan refugees living in his country, Rwanda's state-run radio reported here Thursday.
"The security situation is now stable in Rwanda. The Rwandan refugees in Malawi must now go back home to take part in the national reconstruction," President Mutharika said.
Speaking during Rwandan President Paul Kagame's first official visit to Malawi, he assured that his country would help with the voluntary return of refugees, whose number has not yet been disclosed.
According to the state-run radio, the return of the refugees will be jointly organised by Rwanda, Malawi and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The UNHCR in Rwanda has put at 50, 000 the number of Rwandan refugees living in 42 African countries.
"The security situation is now stable in Rwanda. The Rwandan refugees in Malawi must now go back home to take part in the national reconstruction," President Mutharika said.
Speaking during Rwandan President Paul Kagame's first official visit to Malawi, he assured that his country would help with the voluntary return of refugees, whose number has not yet been disclosed.
According to the state-run radio, the return of the refugees will be jointly organised by Rwanda, Malawi and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The UNHCR in Rwanda has put at 50, 000 the number of Rwandan refugees living in 42 African countries.
Foreign legion wings into Malawi for Africa Nations Cup qualifier
The bulk of Malawi's Flames' foreign legion has winged into the country in the countdown to Saturday's dead rubber Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe's Warriors in Bulawayo of Zimbabwe, website of The Nation newspaper reported Wednesday.
Midfield whiz Joseph Kamwendo, goal tender Swadick Sanudi, defenders James Sangala and Allan Kamanga, midfielders Robert Ng'ambi, Tawonga Chimodzi and Fischer Kondowe and gangling forward Russel Mwafulirwa who ply their trade in South Africa, arrived on the same plane from Johannesburg Monday evening oozing confidence while Tanzania-based defender Wisdom Ndlovu arrived on Sunday afternoon from Dar-es-Salaam.
Russia-based hitman Essau Kanyenda and soaring defender Clement Kafwafwa who plays in the Danish first division, are expected to link-up with the squad in Harare tomorrow enroute to the 'City of Kings' Bulawayo
Coach Stephen Constantine said he was very relieved because it not often that a national team coach gets the privilege of having the bulk of his foreign-based troops.
"As noted by the recent stakeholders meeting, the team lacks coordination and tactical discipline due to limited training availed for foreign-based players. Therefore, it is good that they have come to train with the rest of the team ahead of the Zimbabwe match. However, I would have loved to have them much earlier. Unfortunately, it couldn't happen because Fifa rules stipulate that they can only be released five days prior to the game.
"All the same, it is a relief that they are here because it is envisaged that in the process of utilising professional players on a continuous basis, we stand a chance of attaining a better pattern of play, good tactical discipline and good understanding among themselves," said the British coach.
He also said that the foreign legion is not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up and everyone will have to fight for positions.
"There are 11 professional players for this game. Just like the locally-based players, everyone and I mean everyone, will have to fight for a place, it doesn't matter who you are or where you play," said Constantine.
Kamwendo, who is enjoying a rich vein of form in the rainbow nations, asserted that Flames are not going to Bulawayo on a sight-seeing mission.
"Of course the match might be of academic interest but pride will be at stake. We want to finish the group on second position and we'll give out our best. If there was no cause at all, we certainly wouldn't have been here," said the midfield maestro who is expected to lead the Flames in absence of their on-field leader Peter 'Mjojo' Mponda who is serving two yellow cards alongside Tanzania-based midfield workhorse James Chilapondwa.
Midfield whiz Joseph Kamwendo, goal tender Swadick Sanudi, defenders James Sangala and Allan Kamanga, midfielders Robert Ng'ambi, Tawonga Chimodzi and Fischer Kondowe and gangling forward Russel Mwafulirwa who ply their trade in South Africa, arrived on the same plane from Johannesburg Monday evening oozing confidence while Tanzania-based defender Wisdom Ndlovu arrived on Sunday afternoon from Dar-es-Salaam.
Russia-based hitman Essau Kanyenda and soaring defender Clement Kafwafwa who plays in the Danish first division, are expected to link-up with the squad in Harare tomorrow enroute to the 'City of Kings' Bulawayo
Coach Stephen Constantine said he was very relieved because it not often that a national team coach gets the privilege of having the bulk of his foreign-based troops.
"As noted by the recent stakeholders meeting, the team lacks coordination and tactical discipline due to limited training availed for foreign-based players. Therefore, it is good that they have come to train with the rest of the team ahead of the Zimbabwe match. However, I would have loved to have them much earlier. Unfortunately, it couldn't happen because Fifa rules stipulate that they can only be released five days prior to the game.
"All the same, it is a relief that they are here because it is envisaged that in the process of utilising professional players on a continuous basis, we stand a chance of attaining a better pattern of play, good tactical discipline and good understanding among themselves," said the British coach.
He also said that the foreign legion is not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up and everyone will have to fight for positions.
"There are 11 professional players for this game. Just like the locally-based players, everyone and I mean everyone, will have to fight for a place, it doesn't matter who you are or where you play," said Constantine.
Kamwendo, who is enjoying a rich vein of form in the rainbow nations, asserted that Flames are not going to Bulawayo on a sight-seeing mission.
"Of course the match might be of academic interest but pride will be at stake. We want to finish the group on second position and we'll give out our best. If there was no cause at all, we certainly wouldn't have been here," said the midfield maestro who is expected to lead the Flames in absence of their on-field leader Peter 'Mjojo' Mponda who is serving two yellow cards alongside Tanzania-based midfield workhorse James Chilapondwa.
Malawi guarantees food security
Malawia has so far recorded the best agricultural season in 2006/7, with maize production estimated at 3.44 million metric tonnes, 33.7% higher than the previous harvest season.
The increase in maize production has been attributed to increasing area planted, high level of input, fertilizer, seeds and favorable weather conditions.
"As a result, good household food stocks have translated into reduced market demand for maize and consequently lower maize prices in the local markets than is usually the case for this time of the season," reported Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET), adding that the "bumper harvests have resulted in a good overall food security situation."
Although household food security is generally good across the country, some areas need close monitoring, as the worsening of some factors affecting food security would result in missing food entitlements for some households, FEWS NET warned.
Malawi has exported about 114,000 metric tonnes of the 400,000 of the maize it plans to export to Zimbabwe.
Generally food security is favourable across the country, but the areas where high vulnerability to food insecurity exists needs to be monitored closely.
Also, worsening economic conditions such as reductions in cash crop prices and increases in maize prices could push the food entitlements of some households below their minimum needs between August 2007 and April 2008.
"If this occurs, these households will require assistance to mitigate the effects of food insecurity," FEWS NET said.
Populations in some regions are highly vulnerable to food insecurity this year. The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) estimated that about 519,000 people are at risk of food insecurity should any of the conditions mentioned above deteriorate.
The increase in maize production has been attributed to increasing area planted, high level of input, fertilizer, seeds and favorable weather conditions.
"As a result, good household food stocks have translated into reduced market demand for maize and consequently lower maize prices in the local markets than is usually the case for this time of the season," reported Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET), adding that the "bumper harvests have resulted in a good overall food security situation."
Although household food security is generally good across the country, some areas need close monitoring, as the worsening of some factors affecting food security would result in missing food entitlements for some households, FEWS NET warned.
Malawi has exported about 114,000 metric tonnes of the 400,000 of the maize it plans to export to Zimbabwe.
Generally food security is favourable across the country, but the areas where high vulnerability to food insecurity exists needs to be monitored closely.
Also, worsening economic conditions such as reductions in cash crop prices and increases in maize prices could push the food entitlements of some households below their minimum needs between August 2007 and April 2008.
"If this occurs, these households will require assistance to mitigate the effects of food insecurity," FEWS NET said.
Populations in some regions are highly vulnerable to food insecurity this year. The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) estimated that about 519,000 people are at risk of food insecurity should any of the conditions mentioned above deteriorate.
FEWS Malawi Food Security Update August 2007
Two consecutive bumper harvests have resulted in a good overall food security situation. The 2006/07 agricultural season was the best on record, with maize production estimated at 3.44 million MT, 33.7 percent higher than the 2005/06 season harvest. As a result, good household food stocks have translated into reduced market demand for maize and consequently lower maize prices in the local markets than is usually the case for this time of the season.
Although household food security is generally good across the country, some areas need close monitoring (Table 1), as the worsening of some factors affecting food security would result in missing food entitlements for some households.
Imports and exports of the various crops continue through both formal and informal cross–border trade. Official maize exports to Zimbabwe are progressing well. Malawi has exported about 114,000 MT of the 400,000 MT of maize it plans to export to Zimbabwe.
General food security situation
Although the food security situation is generally favorable across the country, there are some areas where high vulnerability to food insecurity exists and close monitoring is required. Worsening economic conditions, such as reductions in cash crop prices and increases in maize prices, could push the food entitlements of some households below their minimum needs between August 2007 and April 2008. If this occurs, these households will require assistance to mitigate the effects of food insecurity.
Areas where populations are highly vulnerable to food insecurity this year include Nsanje, Chikwawa, Balaka, Mulanje and Machinga districts in the southern region, Mzimba and Karonga districts in the northern region and Ntchisi District in the central region (Table 1). The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) estimates that approximately 519,000 people are at risk of food insecurity should any of the conditions mentioned above deteriorate.
Although household food security is generally good across the country, some areas need close monitoring (Table 1), as the worsening of some factors affecting food security would result in missing food entitlements for some households.
Imports and exports of the various crops continue through both formal and informal cross–border trade. Official maize exports to Zimbabwe are progressing well. Malawi has exported about 114,000 MT of the 400,000 MT of maize it plans to export to Zimbabwe.
General food security situation
Although the food security situation is generally favorable across the country, there are some areas where high vulnerability to food insecurity exists and close monitoring is required. Worsening economic conditions, such as reductions in cash crop prices and increases in maize prices, could push the food entitlements of some households below their minimum needs between August 2007 and April 2008. If this occurs, these households will require assistance to mitigate the effects of food insecurity.
Areas where populations are highly vulnerable to food insecurity this year include Nsanje, Chikwawa, Balaka, Mulanje and Machinga districts in the southern region, Mzimba and Karonga districts in the northern region and Ntchisi District in the central region (Table 1). The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) estimates that approximately 519,000 people are at risk of food insecurity should any of the conditions mentioned above deteriorate.
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