Malawi coach Phiri unhappy with venue switch for return game against Ghana

Posted On Monday, 17th September 2012

Malawi coach Phiri furious at decision to switch venue for Ghana return game

By Ameenu Shardow

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri is furious with the decision to move their 2013 Nations Cup qualifier second leg match against Ghana from Blantyre to the capital, Lilongwe.

The Flames must overturn a 2-0 deficit suffered in the first leg in Accra to qualify for the finals to be hosted in South Africa ahead of the more fancied Black Stars.

Phiri however fears the decision by the Malawi FA to change the match venue could wreck his plans now that the game will be played on natural grass rather than on the originally elected artificial turf at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

“We are used to the artificial turf at the Kamuzu Stadium and the change of venue will give the advantage to Ghana because their players ply their trade in Europe where they mostly play on natural grass,” Phiri said.

“There’s nothing much we can do apart from shifting our camping next week to Lilongwe.”

Malawi FA boss Walter Nyamilandu however explains the closure of the Kamuzu Stadium on safety grounds three weeks ago left his association no choice but to opt for the 20,000 capacity Civo Stadium.

“The Kamuzu Stadium, the cathedral of the game in Malawi, was closed three weeks ago on safety grounds,” Nyamilandu said.

“We had no choice but to choose Civo.”

The change of venue will certainly be to the advantage of the Black Stars whose team comprised dominantly of foreign-based players are used to playing on natural grass.

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READERS COMMENTS

DORMENYO says:

September 17, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Sorry guys somethings are for men only

Reply to this Comment
KWAME NAAGBEWA says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:13 pm

Upon all the big mouth now Natural grass is your excuse for a loss? so all along you were relying on artificial grass to score goals for you. WEll listen Artificial grass, natural grass, Blackstars is Blackstars.

Reply to this Comment
kantoose says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:16 pm

Hey Mr Phiri,I hope the pitch is in good condition though. GFA please go and check the condition of the pitch before the game and report pot-holes to CAF. It looks like Malawi is looking to relying on extenuating Circumstances to get a good result! GFA ACT FAST! WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE!

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osondu says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:42 pm

fellas, if am not mistaken,this coach might be a Zambian, the name Phiri. This South-africans are full of evil. I can see it in this Phiri-Zambian eyes. But the question i want to ask is, God-forbid ,but if they qualify for afcon 2013,will be matches be played on artificial turf??? Stone age-Coach, grow up. A bad worker always quarrels with his tools

Reply to this Comment
bawah says:

September 17, 2012 at 5:18 pm

WHY USE DEVIOUS WAYS TO WIN MATCHES MR COATCH?AT THE AFCON WE DONT HAVE ARTIFICIAL TURFS;

Reply to this Comment
Chu says:

September 17, 2012 at 5:27 pm

hahahahahahahahaaa phiri can compare himself to akwasi appiah but ghanaian players are not the type to use off-the-pitch tactics agaisnt. go back to herve renard and learn

Reply to this Comment
SEJAY says:

September 17, 2012 at 5:42 pm

Lol this coach is very funny ! so all this time that he is bragging he’s only relying on artificial turf? OMG !!!Malawi Fa must sack this coach. he doesn’t have faith and for that, he must be fired !!! Mr. Phiri, no matter what you rely on, Ghana will and shall surely come to your end and beat you in all ways.For this faith in you, i shouldn’t even coach kindergarten students soccer team.Apeeeeee ! relying on turf grass my bott.

Reply to this Comment
Randolph says:

September 17, 2012 at 6:05 pm

This coach might be a comedian.

Reply to this Comment
- AMERICA LOVER says:
  
  September 17, 2012 at 9:05 pm
  
  YES I AGREE WITH YOU BUDDY
  
  Reply to this Comment
bibo says:

September 17, 2012 at 9:56 pm

This coach has embarrassed us Malawians.Is he telling me that most of his players who play in Malawi’s super league teams only use artificial turf? There are stadiums in Zomba,Mzuzu,Nchalo,Balaka,Dwangwa,Lilongwe and even Blantyre where teams play on natural grass.It is only Kamuzu stadium which has artificial turf.Civo stadium has hosted so many teams including the Ivory Coast of Youssuf Fofana and the Liberia of George Opong Weah,and all these teams went back empty handed.So what is so special about Ghana only playing at Kamuzu stadium? I hate coaches who lack confidence-no wonder he consulted a Zambian coach.Whether BT or LL Ghana has to and will fall.

Reply to this Comment
selfmade says:

September 18, 2012 at 12:50 am

Ahhhh coach kinapharma,have u taken overdose of kinapharma constipation stomach drugs and want some place to shit anaa?.. ok i guess i have a guy idea why u want the so called ceespit and shit house called kamuzu stadium so that you can relief youself of your stomach constipation pains with a big fluctuation!!! U love to fluctuate alot and is a big time atomic bomb fluctuation and u want the so called kamuzu stadium so that the noise ll be drowned by the spectators!!!! Since u have such a big head and thick neck like that,i guess u have a big turumu kesse3 paa,and therefore the water closet in your house can’t accomdate this panyin turumu kesse3,so u want the whole ceespit called kamuzu to shit very very well!!! Oh sorry kinapharma,sorry ooooh,i know u are disappointed with your gov,but i think u can still shit well well in that small shithouse too!!!! Please in the name of jesus,please try to control this atomic bomb fluctuations so as not to blow this stadium too as this is the only one left for us!!! Please don’t also come fluctuate blast the balls too i beg waa!!!! Viva the revolutioncion!!!!!! Welcome to namboole!!!

Reply to this Comment
Dr Who says:

September 18, 2012 at 4:05 am

This coach has more confidence on the artificial pitch than his players to beat Ghana.

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