Malawi: Hopes high for World Cup 2010

  1. Posted on Monday 7 July 2008 - 07:22
    Richard Chirombo
    Image of Richard Chirombo
    Richard Chirombo, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    Malawi National Football team coach, Kinna Phiri, says there is nothing to prevent Malawi from playing at the 2010 South African-hosted World Cup tournament. This is despite the fact that Malawi are in a tricky group, made up of Egypt, DR Congo, and Djibouti.
    Malawi_soccer
    The country's national soccer team last went to any African Cup of Nations tournament more than two decades ago, a reality that makes it a wild dream to think of any prospects of qualifying for the World Cup.

    But Phiri now lives in the fantacy world- where Malawi plays at her first-ever World Cup- and possibly, in that world, beats Itary, England, Spain, Germany, and Scortland and lifts the coveted trophy- following the hugely historic humbling of Egypt at Kamuzu Stadiun in June.

    The coach also looks at Malawi's move from 126 to 107 on the latest Cocacola Fifa rankings as a move to the promised land.

    When the country's best eleven beat Egypt, there was an approar, as people begun to believe that State President Bingu wa Mutharika was now living up to prophesy. Musician Joseph Mkasa nick-named him 'Mose wa Lero', meaning 'Modern Moses'- a tag that went well with the downing of the Pharaoh boys.
    It was like the ancient Moses had come back again to bail Israel (the Malawi National team) out of Egypt!

    But when they went to Cairo for the return match a week later, Egypt was back as Egypt.

    "You should not rule us out, we will make it to South Africa, Beating Egypt was just the beginning of good things to come. Malawi is back,' said Phiri, himself a cerebrated player during his hey days.

    It was the third time Malawi had beat Egypt, having met seven times before that game, Malawi winning twice, Egypt thrice, and sharing a draw between them.
    Phiri adds that, with the support being received by government and the private sector, success was now nolonger far-fetched for the Flames, as Malawi are widely known.

    Malawi, translated to Chichewa, the country's vernacular, means Flames.
    But people have come to know them as the Flames that do not burn.
    Is it the beginning of an end to this misplaced joke? Wait for 2010.

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