Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president, Fleetwood Haiya has promised continued support as for the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship bronze medalists, saying the Malawi national team has great potential to make it to the World Cup
He made the pledge when he and Minister of Local Government, Richard Chimwendo Banda hosted the team last evening at the Douglas Hotel in Lilongwe to officially welcome them back home from South Africa where they won the bronze.
As a token of appreciating, Haiya also pledged K500,000 to each of the the squad members for their achievements at the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship.
“ We are delighted by your achievements which comes after your AFCON qualification. You have proven that with support you can make it big in Major competitions. We will ensure that you take part in the World Cup qualifiers because you have shown that you can easily reach that stage if well supporters,” he said.
Malawi won the bronze after beating Saudi Arabia 5-4 in a very tight third place play-off through goals from Isaac Kajamu (11′, 17’), O’Brien Nkhumbula (15′, 31’) and Simba Dala (32′).
They lost 6-9 to Morocco in the semi-final that ended Malawi’s hopes of winning their first-ever COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship title since the competition was introduced in 2015.
In 2015, Malawi won the silver medal after a 4-9 loss to Madagascar in Seychelles and although Malawi lost to Morocco in the semi-final, the team put up a gallant fight.
Malawi also lost 3-7 to Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals held in Vilankulo, Mozambique.
The feat against Saudi Arabia comes after they lost 1-5 to the Arab side in the second game of the group stage after they had beaten South Africa 4-2 in the opening match before thrashing Seychelles 7-2 in the last group stage match.
Saudi Arabia, Morocco and 2021 CAF Beach Soccer AFCON silver-medalists, Tanzania were teams outside the COSAFA that participated on invitation.
Ahead of the championship, Haiya had encouraged the team that they had all the potential to win the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship, taking cognizance that Malawi finished as runners-up in their only appearance at the regional competition during the inaugural championship in Seychelles in 2015.
