adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
MALAWI midfielder Joseph Kamwendo says it would be emotional for him when he returns to the National Sports Stadium tomorrow, where he made a name for himself at CAPS United, and became the first and only foreigner to win Soccer Star of the Year award. But Kamwendo says the emotions will not distract him from the big task at hand in this Group L 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Flames of Malawi arrived yesterday afternoon and declared war on the Warriors.
However, they had to endure about a one-and-half hour wait at the Harare International Airport waiting for a bus to ferry them to their hotel.
The Flames are bottom of the group.
Kamwendo and another former CAPS United forward Gerald Phiri said they were here to inflict pain on the Warriors.
Coach Ernest Mtawali, one of the greatest players to emerge out of Malawi and to grace the South African Premiership, said his men were ready.
“For me, as everyone knows, Zimbabwe is my second home. It is a great feeling to be back in Zimbabwe,” said Kamwendo.
“I know the people here, they have helped me to be where I am today.
“They supported me when I was here before people knew who I was but Zimbabwe helped me to be where I am so it is going to be an emotional return, especially playing at the National Sports Stadium where I made my name.
“So, it is a great feeling and, like I said, and I am looking forward to the game on Sunday.”
The Liga Muculmana player said they are here on a mission to revive their campaign even though it looks doomed right now.
“Mathematically for us we are not yet out. We know that even though we have two points but if we win against Zimbabwe and then our last game will be at home against Swaziland we can finish on eight points.
“We are still in the fight, we know that we are playing a very good team in Zimbabwe but we are ready because we know what to expect from our opponents.
“We are here on a mission we still want to qualify even though we haven’t been doing well.
“We know each other, most of the players we have played against each other, and we are friends now but on Sunday it is going to be a war, it is going to be a battle and let’s hope the fans are going to enjoy the game,” said Kamwendo.
Phiri believes the Warriors are the ones under pressure.
“I left last year and it is great to be back. We are ready and I know a few players here, most of them based in South Africa, but I know the style of Zimbabwean football so I think it is going to be a tough game.
“But I feel Zimbabwe are under pressure to qualify, the fans would be behind them, the whole country is behind them, they want them to qualify so I feel like they would be under pressure and it might work to our advantage” said Phiri.
Mtawali said their opponents were more competitive than them.
“Playing away from home, obviously, and we have come here as the underdogs, they beat us at home 2-1, they are on top of the group not by fluke but because they are a good team, we are expecting a tough encounter on Sunday.
“We are very much prepared for the game, yes we haven’t won any game so far but the result we got away in Guinea also encouraged us.
“We lost at home 1-2 (to Guinea), that was our worst game ever that we have ever played, but this time around I think the guys are ready to give the Zimbabweans a tough time.
“It is not going to be an easy game but a tough one,” said Mtawali.
He believes they can still spring a surprise.
“Anything can happen in football and I can tell you as a former player, I used to play for a club called Bloemfontein Celtics in South Africa, we were on top of the log with three games to go.
“By then it was 1998, for a win you used to get two points out of those three games we just needed just two draws for us to be crowned champions but you know what happened we lost away 2-1, went at home drew 1-1, we got a point and lost away again 2-1 and we ended up fifth on the log.
“So football is very strange and Malawi might make miracles this time around,” he said.
The Flames have lost their skipper Limbikani Mzava and Isaac Kariati to injuries.
Online Reporter