Coach wants team to be active

Malawi National Beach Soccer Team Coach Willy Kumilambe has said it is important to keep the team active if it is to perform well at the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Egypt later this year.

Kumilambe made the remarks after his side secured back-to-back qualification for the continental showpiece following a 15-14 aggregate victory over Burundi.

Malawi and Burundi settled for an 8-8 stalemate in the second leg at Livingstonia Beach in Salima on Saturday, six days after Malawi claimed a 7-6 first leg win in Bujumbura.

Kumilambe said he is confident of building a formidable side ahead of the finals slated for October.

“We have enough quality and we believe that we can match any team in Africa. But we just need to be active. We also need to believe in ourselves,” he said.

Kumilambe also guided the team to the 2022 Beach Soccer Afcon finals which took place in Vilankulo, Mozambique.

The coach said despite some shortfalls, there were several positives from the two matches against Burundi.

“As you saw during the game, we have some problems which need to be rectified before the finals. This can only be done if we are active,” he added.

The match against Burundi exposed the team’s shortcomings, especially in defence and goalkeeping departments, resulting in the visitors coming from behind to force the draw.

Football Association of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya congratulated the team.

“We are very excited with what the team has done. We will go back to the government to report that the team has qualified for the Afcon finals and it will be up to it to advise on what happens next. We believe the government is equally motivated with the qualification and will support the team so that it gets the results in Egypt,” Haiya said.

Malawi National Council of Sports Vice Chairperson Charles Ulaya Banda said they are very happy with what the players have achieved.

“The boys have done us proud and we will go to the relevant authorities to ask for support towards the team,” he said.

Malawi will be hoping for a better performance in the North African country after finishing sixth during the 2022 finals.

It is expected that the team will build on its Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship exploits, which saw it winning bronze during a competition held in Durban, South Africa, in March.