adminChampions Zimbabwe, one of the most popular teams in the Zambian capital, will kick-start the last eight round of fixtures with a date against the Flames at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka at lunch-time on Saturday.
The Warriors against the Flames tie will precede another quarter-final encounter pitting South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Brave Warriors of Namibia at the modest stadium which is the home of Zambian top-flight side Red Arrows.
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, in charge of Malawi on an interim two-month basis, made some changes to his final 20-man side as the Flames seek to upstage a Warriors side which their new gaffer barely got time to coach before being deported from Zimbabwe for working without a permit.
Saintfiet reportedly dropped goalkeeper Charles Swini, who let in two goals last month when Malawi drew 2-2 with Kenya in a World Cup qualifier in Blantyre, and the pair of Gabadinho Mhango and Lucky Malata, who are trying their luck in South Africa with AmaZulu and BidVest Wits University.
But Mozambique-based goalkeeper Simplex Nthala, home-based Gastin Simkonda, Jimmy Zakazaka and James Sangala also return for a Flames side whose best run in the regional competition has been being runners-up to the Warriors in the 2003 edition in which they were hammered 4-1 on aggregate by Sunday Chidzambwa’s men.
Former CAPS United and Orlando Pirates winger Joseph Kamwendo is among the seasoned players who include Dave Banda, Fischer Kondowe and Young Chimodzi in the team.
The Warriors are expected to fly into the Zambian capital at around 11am today.
While Zimbabwe and Malawi brace for their showdown, interesting clashes are on today in the final Group B matches in Lusaka and Kitwe pitting Lesotho against Swaziland and Kenya taking on Botswana.
Tournament guests Kenya with four points look poised to qualify from the group that is, however, delicately poised with both Lesotho and Botswana (two points each) in with mathematical chances of progressing too.
Lesotho’s coach Leslie Notsi was confident his charges could still snatch the group ticket if they find their range against Swaziland.
Notsi felt “the close competition in the group was testimony of the quality of the teams at this year’s tournament’’ which he spoke highly of.
“The boys and we the coaches believe in ourselves and we want to give ourselves and our nation something to cherish from this quality tournament. This tournament has shown that there is talent in Southern Africa.
“Of course we don’t just have to win against Swaziland but we have to score more goals because it might come down to goal difference deciding the winners.
“To us this is a must win match, it is like the final,’’ Notsi said.
Sihlangu coach Valere Billen said although they were out of the reckoning, they would want to bow out with a win to restore their battered pride.
“There is some improvement I am seeing from the team. My boys were tired as well because they have not yet reached the levels of Kenya or other teams. We are still building a team here and with time we will get better.
“My boys are not used to playing such a high number of pressure games within a short space of time in terms of their conditioning so, yes, I do think that fatigue affected them greatly,” Billen said.
Hosts Chipolopolo are also not in action at least until Sunday when they date Mozambique at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Mozambique coach Joao Chisano told journalists that his charges are ready for Zambia and took a cautious approach to the game, mindful of the fact that history is weighing heavily against them.
“When you go into history we have not beaten Zambia,” Chisano said.
“The best result we have against them is a draw whether home or away.
“For 20 years, we have not beaten Zambia, but we have no chance. I think we have 20 percent and Zambia have 80 percent, but we are ready for this tournament.”
Zambia have won all seven of their Cosafa Cup encounters against the Mambas with only one tie going to penalties in the 1999 quarter-finals that Chipolopolo won 4-3 on post-match penalties after a 1-1 result.
Malawi squad
Goalkeepers: Simplex Nthala, Owen Chaima
Defenders: James Sangala, Moses Chavula, Douglas Chirambo, John Lanjesi, Bongani Kaipa, Gorge Nyirenda
Midfielders: Joseph Kamwendo, Micium Mhone, Chimango Kayira, Young Chimodzi Jnr, Frank Banda, Dave Banda, Fischer Kondowe and Ndaziona Chatsalira;
Strikers: Jimmy Zakazaka, Simkonda, Boniface Kaulesi and Chiukepo Msowoya.
Online Reporter