The dreaded COSAFA Cup coordinates have been plotted in Bloemfontein, a city famous of its roses.
The Flames of Malawi, maybe poised to yet decorate their names in the famous judicial capital of the rainbow nation, by defying all odds to engrave a 12th wonder of the world in the tabloids of COSAFA Cup.
An opportunity to conjure the gods of footballs awaits the Flames, so are the victory-hungry fans back home.
There has never been a chef who made omelette without breaking the eggs. The flames return to COSAFA, this time with some renewed conviction.
A sizeable crowd of countrymen in diaspora will watch the proceedings from the terraces.
Back home, many will be glued in front of their television sets, whether flat or the almost defunct ‘pot-bellied’ telefunkens, all on the edge of their sweaty seats salivating and panting for a famous victory.
Flames group compromising of Lesotho, Namibia and Angola will be tightly contested from the onset.
At his disposal Coach Calisto Pasuwa has assembled a highly experienced squad, largely with tried and tested players on the international platform.
Having twice reached the finals of the competition, the message of Flames squad selection is very clear; the Cosafa Cup must be brought home, whether by design, default or both.
Lesotho will be the first to test the resolute and mental preparedness of Flames at Toyota Stadium in group B match opener.
It will be a battle of skill, strength and tactics. Flames will then play against Namibia and Angola in that perking order in their quest to glory. Depending on his preferred formation, Coach Calisto Pasuwa will have to deploy an offensive formation, with two quick wingers who can give his side depth in attack, and very versatile to retreat to increase the desired line of defense in numbers when possession is lost.
If given freedom of the pitch, Wisdom Mpinganjira will be a marvel to watch, and probably a highly prized toast of the tournament.
The furrows are dead deep in Bloemfontein, Flames will require determination and fortitude to propel through the maze at the end of the grilling and gruesome tournament.
The expectation is huge, so is the task. Go yee Flames!
