Malawi coach banks on Simwaka ahead of Banyana rematch

Asimenye (right, back to camera):

Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi.

Malawi senior women’s football team coach Lovemore Fazili believes that addition of attacker Asimenye Simwaka would inject more fire power to the Scorchers frontline in Tuesday’s game against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.

Simwaka missed the first friendly on Saturday and is now available. Fazili believes she gives Malawi more attacking options.

“Strategically we are doing a lot. We are making some changes from the line-up of the first game against Banyana Banyana. I am very sure whatever we are doing now, we are going to change the performance of the team. We have also welcomed Asimenye Simwaka from Namibia. We are now in a better position as we have someone who can change things upfront,” he said.

With both teams sharpening up for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) assignments, Banyana Banyana welcome the Scorchers for a second friendly at the University of Johannesburg-Soweto Stadium where the host won 3-0 on Saturday.

Minus attacking threat of Rose Kadzere, Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga who did not make the trip to Johannesburg, Fazili’s girls were toothless in attack with long balls pumped to nobody thereby granting Desiree Ellis’ side the initiative.

However, Fazili now insists on Simwaka, who was on another assignment for athletes as a short distance runner, there is plan B to give South Africa a run for their money.

“South Africa had weaknesses in defence and goalkeeper but since our team was so weak that day, South Africa had an upper hand. I am so sure with Asimenye upfront, we are going to have a good performance,” he said.

Malawi are fine-tuning for a WAFCON qualifying match against Angola while Banyana Banyana are preparing for the actual continental finals in Morocco this July.