CAFCL: Silver Strikers prepared psychologically – Mwafulirwa

Silver Strikers coach Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa has stressed the importance of mental preparedness for Saturday’s crunch meeting with hosts Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga SC).

The Malawi champions have a mountain to climb in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round match at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Mwafulirwa told the Lilongwe-based club’s media that it was important for the players to have peak concentration during the second leg match.

“We are very prepared for the game,” the coach said. “We know that it will be a difficult game against a very big team. We have worked on the players psychologically because the atmosphere will be intimidating. We worked on ensuring that we switch off from the noise in the terraces and focus on the game.”

What will be Silver Strikers’ tactical approach against Yanga?

Mwafulirwa, who works under head coach Peter Mgangira, explained their tactical approach to the game.

“We need to defend and attack with discipline while ensuring that if we attack, we retreat as soon as possible to avoid being caught off position. We also need to make life difficult for them by getting a goal,” he added.

The Malawians face a near-impossible task of preserving their lead from the first leg against the hosts who hardly lose at home.

The TNM Super League’s defending champions stunned the fancied Yanga, defeating them 1-0 at Bingu National Stadium last week. The Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions did not take the loss lightly they swiftly axed then coach Romain Folz hours after the game.

Malawian assistant coach Patrick Mabedi is in charge of Yanga in an interim capacity. Strikers need a draw to book their place in the Champions’ League group stages while Yanga must win at all costs.

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