Malawi’s senior national football team, the Flames, have intensified preparations for the upcoming Four Nations Tournament in Botswana as head coach Kalisto Pasuwa continues to fine-tune his squad ahead of the competition.
Speaking in an interview, Pasuwa said the team has been undergoing rigorous training sessions since entering camp, with the technical panel focusing on assessing the players’ fitness levels and tactical readiness.
“The training has been going very well. We received most of the players on the first day and conducted physical tests to assess their condition because the boys were coming from the off-season,” said Pasuwa.
The Flames coach emphasized that the tournament will play an important role in helping the team rebuild cohesion and sharpen tactical understanding.
“These games are very important for us because we are playing after two or three months without international matches. We need to observe the players’ cohesion and coordination in terms of tactics because there are many things we cannot fully address in just a few days,” he said.
Pasuwa added that the tournament also forms part of the team’s long-term rebuilding process as Malawi continues preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
“So far the rebuilding process is going well, although we have had some setbacks such as our captain Gabadinho Mhango being injured again. We are trying to discover new players and give opportunities to those who may not have been playing regularly so that we broaden our squad,” he said.
He further noted the importance of exposing the team to stronger opposition across the continent.
“We need to test ourselves against teams from North and West Africa where we know there are very strong sides. That will help improve our players,” Pasuwa added.
The coach also provided an update on injuries in camp, revealing that only defender Blessings Mpokera has been ruled out after failing a medical test due to a minor knee injury.
“Since we started camping, it is only Blessings Mpokera who is not okay, so we have sent him back for recovery,” he said.
The Flames will face hosts Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia in the Four Nations Tournament, which is expected to provide the team with valuable preparation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
