In what turned out to be a bad start for the defending champions, Malawi Women’s National Football team, Scorchers, have reached the semi-finals of the COSAFA Women’s Championship after thrashing Mauritius 9-0 to top their group with seven points.
In the absence of key players such as Tabitha Chawinga and her sister and Rose Kabzere, the girls have proved this wrong with a hard-earned victory.
In their first match, Scorchers earned a single point having drawn against Botswana with Madagascar leading Group B.
Before the match, Malawi Scorchers chances of progressing were at stake as Botswana beat Mauritius 5-0 with Botswana leading with 4 points whereas the Scorchers were second placed because of an inferior goal aggregate.
However, Coach Lovemore Fazili was upbeat that his charges will perform wonders with Chairperson of the Malawi Football Team, Adellaide Migogo describing the absence of some key players as a blessing in disguise.
In order to advance to the semi-finals, the Scorchers needed to secure a convincing win in their final group match against Mauritius, thanks to Leticia Chinyamula and Sabina Thom hit hat-tricks while Asimenye Simwaka, Catherine Kachala and Maureen Kenneth scored a goal each.
The Scorchers’ impressive performance in the group stage has earned them a semi-final berth where they will face winner from group C.
The Scorchers took an early lead against Mauritius barely, 9 minutes into the game with a goal from Leticia Chinyamula, through a penalty awarded after Sabina Thom was fouled.
Asimenye Simwaka scored the second in the 27th minute.
The girls continued to pile pressure on their opponents as half time sent the Scorchers with four goals while Mauritius had no goal.
The fourth goal came from Leticia Chinyama, who opened a pool of goals 5 minutes into the second half. Another goal was scored 14 minutes later through a penalty awarded to the Scorchers.
Leticia Chinyamula and Sabina Thom scored the 6th and 7th goals with Catherine Kachala registering an 8th goal and a 9th goal coming in from Maureen Kenneth who scored from a penalty in the 9 minutes of added time.
Speaking in an interview, Coach Fazili has hailed his charges for the impressive performance, attributing it to hard work.
“It is extremely well-done job and I really appreciated the players performance, considering that we started defending the championship at a low pace,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chinyamula was named Player of the Match with three goals scored.
“I am happy not because of this trophy but because Malawi has earned 3 points that has sent us to the semi-finals. Thank you to our fans, we will keep going so that we achieve more,” she explained.
Malawians could not help it but congratulate the girls for the deserved victory.
