Pasuwa swallows Cosafa humble pie, says building team for 2027 AFCON
By Precious Msosa
Flames head coach, Kallisto Pasuwa, has admitted that the team’s performance at this year’s Cosafa Hollywoodbets was unsatisfactory but was quick to point out that there are more gains than the losses to take home.
Addressing journalists in Blantyre on Thursday, Pasuwa said as much as the team did not perform to the expectation of most soccer fans, their participation is good for the future.
Pasuwa during the presser (Photo Credit: FAM)
In all their three matches, the team failed to register any win let alone a goal, a development which has compelled some soccer pundits to question the ability of the local game, where the same strikers shine with their goal scoring prowess.
In their Group B, comprising Lesotho, Namibia and the 2024 champions Angola, the best which the Flames managed to register was a barren draw against Namibia and losing by a 1 -nil margin to Angola and Lesotho respectively. They were eventually booted out in group stages.
But despite the miserable showing, Pasuwa was upbeat of the team’s prospects.
“Scoring is an art that one needs to perfect and we will still be working on it. We saw some positives yes, but what remains is for us to work on the negatives,” he said.
He said some of the players at the tournament proved that they can be great additions to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, which he is targeting.
Pasuwa then justified the dropping of some key Flames players like left back Alick Lungu, centre back Nixon Mwase and Lloyd Aaron for Timothy Swilwimba, Blessings Mpokera, Blessings Singini and Emmanuel Nyirenda in order for them to also have an international exposure.
Flames’ Chikumbutso Salima (in green) at the tournament (Photo Credit: FAM)
He said if the above regulars were to be included in the squad, it meant that the other players had no chance. He nevertheless, lauded the new lads’ performance.
The coach also clarified the fact that he favours FCB Nyasa Big Bullets players when it comes to national team call up, saying Bullets players have an advantage over the others due to their CAF Champions league participation.
He said at national team there is structured type of football just like at CAF and this is why Bullets players have an edge over others. Meanwhile, FAM president Fleetwood Haiya has backed the technical panel whom he said are on a good team building process.
