Malawi’s good performance in the Council for Southern Africa’s (COSAFA) Confederation of African Football (CAF) Zone Schools qualifiers paid off by contributing six players in the best 11.
Striker Eneles Fabiano, midfielder Juliet Kalua and defenders Martha Mwakikunga and Eunice Sintchaya were named in the best 11 girls team, according to COSAFA.COM.
On the other hand the tournament’s golden boot winner Okester Kanyenda and midfielder Amos Nyirenda from Malawi made it to the best 11 in the boys category.
The girls’ team lost to South Africa in the final but qualified for the CAF Schools Championship because South Africa automatically qualified in their capacity as defending champions.
The boys team was booted out in the semi-finals by South Africa the eventual tournament winners, who beat Zambia in the final.
Malawi Schools Sports Association president Blackson Malamula said in an interview that the feat showed that Malawi has good teams.
“This is a big achievement and I applaud those that have made it into the best 11 for a job well done. We need to encourage and motivate them.”
The CAF Schools Championship is sponsored by the continental football governing body’s President Patrice Motsepe.
The championship is earmarked for Morocco next year.
Meanwhile, Malawi received $75,000 (about K150 million) for being runners-up in the girls team while South Africa got $100,000 (about K200 million).
The Malawi defied all odds to do well when Massa was criticised for arranging the team to travel about 2600 kilometres by road to Namibia to the competition.
