Under pressure coach Pasuwa seeks Malawi redemption

Amid mounting pressure, Malawi national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa has pleaded with the team’s Botswana-based supporters not to give up going into Tuesday’s encounter with the Zebras.

The Flames take on the hosts Botswana at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in a Mukuru Four Nations Tournament third-place play-off with mere pride at stake, following an opening defeat at the hands of Zambia on Saturday.

📢MALAWI🇲🇼SACA SU CONVOCATORIA PARA LA PRÓXIMA FECHA FIFA‼️
👉Jugarán la Four Nations Tournament con selecciones del Sur de África
👉Mwisho Mhango novedad en la convocatoria
👉Jugadores de hasta 10 ligas disponibles pic.twitter.com/c4MGzx9m0W

— BILLETE AL MUNDIAL (@BilleteAl25376) March 24, 2026

Ahead of the third-place play-off, the TNM Super League multiple-winner urged fans to rally behind his team.

Pasuwa pleads with Flames supporters ahead of Botswana match

“I ask the supporters to come in numbers and support us. Yes, we lost on penalties [to Zambia]—it is part of the game. We will be an improved side when we play Botswana,” he said.

Earlier, the former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ celebrated coach insisted that he has no issue working under pressure.

“As a coach, pressure is always there. Even when you are training, there is pressure. Even when you are building a team, you need pressure. At the end of the day, you are the man responsible for all the results,” said the former Zimbabwe international.

Is issue of the Flames about coaching or players’ quality?

The ex-Warriors coach has not translated his impressive performance with clubs such as Dynamos FC in his home country then FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in Malawi. He won four consecutive league titles with Dynamos from 2011 to 2014 then again four with Bullets from 2018 and 2023.

However, over a year into his appointment as a permanent coach for Malawi, Pasuwa has proved not much different to his predecessor Patrick Mabedi and others before him.

The former Bullets man has delivered occasional victories and draws over usual opponents then underperformed when it matters. Overall, he has posted two wins, six defeats and two draws in 11 games across all competitions since being appointed in February 2025.

As has been the story in the past, Malawi can only prevail over average opposition largely from Southern Africa. While the issue might be about a lack of quality players and not necessarily coaching, in football, every coach is as good as results.

Why questions have emerged on Pasuwa’s performance

In Malawi, questions on the performance of the former Warriors trainer have emerged after Saturday’s 9-8 post-match defeat at the hands of a makeshift Zambia in the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament opener.

On Monday, Malawi’s Times Radio pundits suggested that the 55-year-old might not be the right man to lead the Flames to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Earlier, on-and-off Flames’ striker Khuda Muyaba, via his Facebook page, accused the coach of discarding experienced players such as Chimwemwe Idana and Stanley Sanudi.

Therefore, Tuesday’s game against Botswana might be crucial to the Flames and their coach who must now be coming to terms with managing a national team that has been good at flattering when least expected then deceiving when it matters.

Only three appearances at the AFCON finals in over 40 years sums up Malawi’s story of disappointments.