By Chisomo Phiri
Malawi National Football Team Head Coach, Kalisto Pasuwa, has urged fans to remain patient as the Flames continue their rebuilding process, stressing that the team is still in transition and results will come with time.
Speaking to reporters at Mpira Village in Blantyre on Tuesday, Pasuwa explained that building a competitive squad requires constant changes and testing of players until the technical panel identifies the right blend
“We are building a team, and in doing so you have to start from the back going forward until you have a complete unit.This process requires changing players until you get the right ones who can deliver,” he said.
The Flames have recently featured in several competitions, including the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the COSAFA Cup.
Pasuwa said the technical team used these tournaments to assess both established players and upcoming talent, especially local-based stars.
“Some of the players who featured at COSAFA were local boys we wanted to give exposure to. Our aim was to gradually integrate them into the senior team for future competitions such as the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers,” he explained.
While acknowledging frustrations among supporters over inconsistent results, Pasuwa insisted that the Flames have maintained a core group of players, with only substitutions and rotational changes being made during tournaments.
“If you look at our World Cup qualifiers, three-quarters of the squad remained the same. The only major changes came from the substitutes. At COSAFA, we could have done more in terms of rotation, but we also had to balance that with our long-term plan,” he said.
Responding to concerns about scouting and monitoring of players abroad, Pasuwa assured fans that he closely follows Malawian professionals.
“Since my appointment, I have been tracking the progress of our foreign-based players almost every day. I communicate with them regularly and watch their games despite the time differences. For example, I have followed players like Richard Mbulu and Henry Kumwenda through live matches and recorded footage,” he said.
The Flames mentor, however, emphasized that while building a strong team is the long-term goal, winning matches remains a priority.
“It is not a case of just building a team and losing games. We need results to give Malawians a reason to smile. That is why we keep refining the squad until we come up with a solid team that can consistently deliver,” he concluded.
The Flames will face Namibia on September 5,2025, in Francistown, Botswana, before hosting Liberia at the Bingu National Stadium (BNS ) in Lilongwe three days later.
