Lack of European exposure worries coach

Flames Coach Mario Marinica claims that a lack of European exposure and inadequate game time for Malawian players abroad, is affecting the performance of the National Team.

The Romanian tactician has expressed concern with what he describes as the slow pace at which national team players are adapting to his philosophy.

“Unfortunately I keep on saying that we do not have experienced players that play in Europe, which is making it difficult for them to understand what to do at what particular stage of the game,” he said.

Marinica added that; “Unfortunately if you also look at those that play abroad, they do not have more playing time which makes it difficult in terms of game management.”

On local players not having enough game time in their foreign clubs, Malawians were outraged when forward Gabadinho Mhango was being side-lined at Orlando Pirates before he terminated his contract to join Amazulu.

Gabadinho, one of the Malawian players shining in foreign clubs

The development is similar with other local players playing in foreign clubs as they are hardly in the first 11 and feel the pitch on substitute basis.

For others it’s even worse as they are usually warming the bench throughout the games, with less or no game time.

It is such that the Flames coach is faulting for his team’s poor show in most games.

On Saturday, the Flames hosted Lesotho in a friendly match which ended in a one all draw and on Sunday Lesotho won by a goal to nil in a closed door encounter.

Marinica hinted that he will still have to work on the players’ fitness ahead of the back to back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.

The Flames are expected to play Egypt in Cairo and at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe between March 20 and 28.